The oldest banknotes issued by the Privileged National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia

Abstract

The first paper banknotes of the Privileged National Bank: 100 dinars in gold, 50 dinars in gold and 10 dinars in silver, were placed in circulation in 1884 and 1885. The 100-dinar banknote was put in circulation on 2 July 1884, when the Privileged National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia commenced its operations. The banknotes, especially the 100- and 50-dinar ones, were issued as temporary, with the major assistance of the Belgium National Bank. Given that until then Serbia only had coins in circulation, the paper 100- and 50-dinar banknotes were met with distrust and for quite a while there were problems in respect of their usage. The shortest lifetime had the 50-dinar banknote, due to its poor quality and consequent easy counterfeiting.

Keywords

• 100 dinars
• 50 dinars
• 10 dinars
• 1884
• 1885
• Privileged National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia
• temporary banknote
• Belgium National Bank