Decision on the Issuance and Circulation of Convertible Mark Banknotes

CENTRAL BANK OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Pursuant to Article 2, paragraph 3, item h, Article 7, item e, Article 39, and Article 42 of the Law on the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina", 1/97), and following consultations with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Decision of the High Representative OHR for Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the design of convertible mark banknotes, the Governing Board of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at its 9th session held on May 28, 1998, adopts

D E C I S I O N on the issuance and circulation of convertible mark banknotes

I Issuance of Banknotes

1. The Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter: the Central Bank) has printed convertible mark banknotes (hereinafter: KM) as legal tender for cash payments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2. KM banknotes are printed in the following denominations: 50 pfennig (hereinafter: PF), 1 KM, 5 KM, 10 KM, 20 KM, 50 KM, and 100 KM.

3. All KM banknotes in the denominations listed in item 2 of this Decision are printed in two versions, which have certain common - unique elements, as well as certain different - specific design elements selected by representatives of the entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.

4. Both versions of KM banknotes are equal and mandatory for all public institutions and private individuals or companies to accept when offered in cash payments, in settlement and payment of any obligations towards them, throughout the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the Law on the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

II Circulation of Banknotes

5. KM banknotes in the denominations: 50 PF, and 1 KM, 5 KM, and 10 KM will be put into circulation on June 22, 1998.

6. KM banknotes in the denominations: 20 KM, 50 KM, and 100 KM will be put into circulation by the beginning of August 1998.

III Text and Script on Banknotes

7. The nominal values of all banknotes are expressed in conspicuous numbers and words on both sides and bear the facsimile signature of the Governor.

8. On all banknotes, the name of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina is printed in Latin and Cyrillic scripts in alternating order, such that in one version the text is printed first in Latin script and below it in Cyrillic, and conversely, in the second version, the text is printed first in Cyrillic script and below it in Latin.

IV Design of Banknotes

9. On the face of the banknotes, in the version where the text is printed first in Latin script, there are portraits of writers proposed by representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this case, the name of the writer is written in Latin script below the respective portrait.

10. On the face of the banknotes, in the version where the text is printed first in Cyrillic script, there are portraits of writers proposed by representatives of the Republika Srpska. In this case, the name of the writer is written in Cyrillic script below the respective portrait.

11. On the back of every banknote, with Latin script first, the image is based on fragments of stećci (medieval tombstones), and for banknotes with Cyrillic script first, the image is related to the person whose portrait is on the face of the banknote (for example: house, bridge, trees, bread, gusle, books, and pencils).

12. On all denominations in both versions of the banknotes, an equal background numismatic pattern and a common (identical) arrangement of all elements are provided, with the main drawing on both sides of the banknote, printed on a gios background which is placed opposite the numismatic background.

13. Each banknote bears the attribute of legal tender for cash payment in the nominal value throughout the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of specific elements such as portraits of writers and the order of script text.

V Security Features

14. Banknotes have strong security features, or tolerance characteristics, such as: watermark, security thread, shiny strip, invisible fluorescent ink, visible fluorescent ink with rainbow effect, and serial numbers. For all banknotes, the watermark is +/- 3 mm, and the security thread is +/- 6 mm. On banknotes of 50 PF, 1 KM, and 10 KM, there is a shiny coating of +/- 0.5 mm.

VI Specific Elements

15. The specific elements of banknotes of each nominal value are as follows:

a) The size of the 50 PF banknote is 60 mm x 120 mm. It is blue. In the version where the text is printed first in Latin script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Skender Kulenović. In the version where the text is printed first in Cyrillic script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Branko Ćopić.

b) The size of the 1 KM banknote is 60 mm x 120 mm. It is green. In the version where the text is printed first in Latin script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Ivan Franjo Jukić. In the version where the text is printed first in Cyrillic script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Ivo Andrić.

c) The size of the 5 KM banknote is 62 mm x 122 mm. It is purple. In both versions, i.e., in the version where the text is printed first in Latin script, as well as in the version where the text is printed first in Cyrillic script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Meša Selimović.

d) The size of the 10 KM banknote is 65 mm x 130 mm. It is orange. In the version where the text is printed first in Latin script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Mehmedalija Maka Dizdar. In the version where the text is printed first in Cyrillic script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Alekša Šantić.

e) The size of the 20 KM banknote is 68 mm x 138 mm. It is gray. In the version where the text is printed first in Latin script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Antun Branko Šimić. In the version where the text is printed first in Cyrillic script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Filip Višnjić.

f) The size of the 50 KM banknote is 71 mm x 146 mm. It is red. In the version where the text is printed first in Latin script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Muza Ćazim Ćatić. In the version where the text is printed first in Cyrillic script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Jovan Dučić.

g) The size of the 100 KM banknote is 74 mm x 154 mm. It is brown. In the version where the text is printed first in Latin script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Nikola Šop. In the version where the text is printed first in Cyrillic script, the face of the banknote features the portrait of Petar Kočić.

The back of every banknote in both versions has specific elements as in item 11 of this Decision.

16. This Decision enters into force on the day of publication in the Official Gazettes of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republika Srpska.

Governing Board No.: 11 /98
May 28, 1998
Sarajevo
Chairman of the Governing Board of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina

GOVERNOR
Peter Nicholl