Governing Board Session Held

The Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, (CBBH), Mr. Peter Nicholl is in London where he will on Friday morning, sign a contract with the Royal Mint to begin production of 1 & 2 KM coins. The Royal Mint has for the second time won a multi-country tender for producing BiH coins. The tender process also involved mints in Finland, France, Germany, & Poland. The signing of the production contract follows approval of the design by the three member BiH presidency on Wednesday, 8th December 1999. The BiH presidency also accepted the CBBH's financial report for the first nine months of 1999 and acknowledged the successful work of the CBBH.

The 1 KM coin will be similar in size and compostion to the 1 DEM coin. On the front side, the denomination of the coin will be prominately featured in the center of the coin with a bold number 1 and the letters KM underneath. Along the side edges of the coin on the front will be the words, "Bosna i Hercegovina" in both Latin and Cyrillic script. The reverse side will feature the BiH coat of arms in the center, with the date of production, (2000), underneath. On the top and bottom edges of both sides will be the indentation of one inward pointing "triangle" to indicate the denomination for the sight impaired.

The 2 KM coin will be similar in size to the 2 DEM coin, however will be a bi-metal combination, similar to the 500 Italian Lira coin. White metal on the inside, the outside edge will be a yellow copper color. On the front side, the denomination of the coin will be stamped with a bold number 2. The letters KM will be underneath, and as in the 1 KM coin the words "Bosna i Hercegovina" will be stamped along both left and right edges in both Latin and Cyrillic script. On the reverse side, the "Dove of Peace" with an olive branch in its mouth will be prominately featured in the center of the coin with the date of production, (2000), to the right center of the "dove". Inside the yellow copper edges will be the words "golub mira", ("Dove of Peace") in both Latin and Cyrillic script. On the top and bottom edges of both sides will be the indentation of two inward pointing "triangles", indicating the denomination for the sight impaired.

The coins are expected to be released into circulation in the first quarter of 2000, and the CBBH will update the news media on the production and circulation process as information becomes available.

Color sketches of the approved coin design are attached to this press release or can be obtained by contacting the CBBH Public Relations office at 071/444-785 or via email at [email protected]