Banovac, banski denar or banica is a coin struck and used in the Kingdom of Croatia between 1235 and 1384, [2] replacing the Croatian frizatik (which was also minted by Duke of Slavonia). [3] The Latin name denarius banalis was derived from the words ban ("viceroy") and denarius . [4]
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The coins were first minted in Pakrac, and from 1260 in Zagreb. [3] They were well made, of quality silver, because of which became common exchange currency in Central Europe. [3] There exist some 400 types and sub-types of banovac. [5]
Banovac included on obverse the image of a marten (Croatian : kuna) between two six-pointed stars (inspired by moving leopard/lion from frizatiks and duke's CoA [1] ), because marten pelts were highly valued goods used as a form of payment in Slavonia (marturina). [5] This was one of the reasons for naming the former currency of the Republic of Croatia the kuna (used 1994–2023). [6] On the reverse included image of Patriarchal cross#Hungary, in upper part crescent and star (symbol), and lower part two crowned heads facing each other. [5]
The legends are:
- MONETA REGIS P SCLAVONIA (common)
- MONETA B REGIS P SCLAVONIA (moneta Belae regis pro sclavonia, scarce)
- MONETA DVCIS P SCLAVONIA (scarce)
- MONETA REGIS P VNGARIA (rare)
Initials on the Árpád Dynasty coins are:
- King Bela IV (1235–1270):
- o - o,
- lily - lily,
- bird - bird,
- h - R (Ban Henricus Nemetujvari, 1267–1270)
- King Stephen V (1270–1272)
- S - R (Stephanus Rex),
- R - S (Rex Stephanus)
- King Ladislaus IV (1272–1290)
- R - L (Rex Ladislaus),
- L - R (Ladislaus Rex),
- S - L (Ban Stephanus Babonich - Rex Ladislaus, 1280-1282?),
- R - R - L (Ban Radoszlav - Rex Ladislaus, 1286–1288)
- King Andrew III (1290–1301)
- R - A (Rex Andreas),
- A - R (Andreas Rex),
- S - A (Ban Stephanus Babonich - Rex Andreas, 1300–1301),
- R - bird (Rex Andreas - Ban Stephanus Babonich, 1300–1301),
- A - bird (Rex Andreas - Ban Stephanus Babonich, 1300–1301)
