New Banknote for the New Era

Promotion of the 200 KM banknote will be held on May 15, 2002 in the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. This promotion will symbolically mark release of the largest denomination of the Convertible Mark banknote into circulation in BH. 200 KM banknote is being printed by the Austrian Company Oesterreichische Banknoten und Sicherheitsdruck GmbH (OeBS), which was chosen by the Governing Board of the CBBH after the international tender. The first volume that consists of three millions of 200 KM banknotes will arrive to Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina in May this year, while another three million banknotes should be delivered to CBBH one month later.

Unlike the previous, smaller denominations banknotes, 200 KM banknote has only one version, which is unique for whole BH.

Ivo Andrić, famous writer and the Nobel Prize winner is featured on the face of the banknote, while bridge on River Drina, theme from his novel "Bridge on River Drina", is featured on the reverse side of the banknote. The banknote continues to practice of using both, Latin and Cyrillic script, and all the words used on the banknote are in both scripts. Design of the banknote was decided by the Governing Board of the Central Bank of BH and approved by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Design of this banknote was agreed within the decision making process set out in the Central Bank Law. Decision making process was very quick and very efficient and it was the sharp contrast to the long process that occurred during the design of the first KM banknotes. Process for those banknotes took many months and at the end it was only finished by the decision of the High Representative of the International community. Design of the 200 KM banknote was decided by the Bosnian officials", said Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina Peter Nicholl at the press conference that was held on April 22 in the Central Bank of BH in Sarajevo.

The security elements on this banknote are stronger than on the previous KM banknotes. "It's partly because you need stronger security on the higher denomination banknotes. The other part of the reason is that security features are improving all the time and we have taken very latest features for the 200 KM banknote", stressed Governor of the CBBH Peter Nicholl.

Safety elements of the 200 KM banknote that citizens will be able to use in order to recognize this banknote are watermark with the image of the Bridge on River Drina, special silver foil, security thread and see-through sign. Special silver foil is used at the face of the banknote, and coat of arms of Bosnia and Herzegovina is bulged, which enables blind people to recognize the banknote. Intaglio relief can be felt on some parts of the banknote with the fingertips. Security thread shows the value of the banknote, and when it is held under the UV light, it shins colors of the rainbow. See-through sign is coat of arms of Bosnia and Herzegovina that becomes fully visible when the banknote is held up to the light.

Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina printed 10.000 posters with the safety elements of the 200 KM banknote and 100.000 leaflets in order to inform citizens, companies and institutions on safety elements of the new banknote that will go into circulation in the other half of May this year. Information material will become available this week in commercial banks, post-offices, public institutions, offices, state and private owned companies and shopping malls.

All those interested in posters and leaflets with security elements of the 200 KM banknote can call 033 287 123, which is the phone of the Public Relations Office of the Central Bank of BH.

Public Relations Office

Duška Jurišić