The Genius of a Mind in Lasting Memory – A Coin Dedicated to Slavoljub Penkala

30.06.2025.

The Croatian National Bank, in collaboration with the Croatian Mint, is introducing a new collector issue dedicated to one of the most important Croatian innovators, Slavoljub Penkala, whose inventions have left a lasting mark on the history of science, industry, and technology. The gold and silver collector coin “Slavoljub Penkala’s Innovations” will be available for purchase from 10 July 2025.

This coin is the third release in the numismatic series “Croatian Innovators”, which pays tribute to visionaries and inventors whose work has helped shape the modern world. The coins are minted in high quality and available in two versions:

1-ounce gold coin with a nominal denomination of 100 euro (limited to 100 pieces)
1-ounce silver coin with a nominal denomination of 4 euro (limited to 1,000 pieces)

Slavoljub Penkala was much more than the inventor of the well-known automatic mechanical pencil. He was a symbol of the innovative spirit at the turn of the 20th century. With over 80 patents—including inventions such as the fountain pen with an integrated ink reservoir, the first Croatian aeroplane, and many others—Penkala made a lasting contribution to everyday life.

Contemporary Italian artist Ilaria Longo designed this coin in the spirit of technical precision and aesthetic elegance. The obverse features a portrait of Slavoljub Penkala, whose serious yet inspiring expression reflects his dedication to scientific work. The reverse side depicts Penkala’s most famous invention, with a magnifying glass detail in the foreground highlighting the pencil’s tip as it draws a line in cursive script.

The “Slavoljub Penkala’s Innovations” collector coins will be available for purchase starting July 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM through the official web shop of the Croatian Mint and from authorised sales partners.

This collector issue offers a perfect opportunity to preserve the memory of one of the greatest inventors in Croatian history.

1 ounce gold coin “Slavoljub Penkala’s Innovations”