Types › 🇸🇰 Slovakia
20 Slovak koruna #488
First series of independent Slovakia
(1993–1999)
· issued 1993
· P-19a
· common
Type details
| Country | Slovakia |
| Currency | Slovak koruna |
| Denomination | 20 |
| Series | First series of independent Slovakia |
| Series year | 1993 |
| Series range | 1993–1999 |
| Issue year | 1993 |
| Issuer | Národná banka Slovenska |
| Issuer (native) | NÁRODNÁ BANKA SLOVENSKA |
| Signatures | Governor: Vladimír Masár |
| Printer | Giesecke+Devrient |
| Front portrait | Prince Pribina |
| Reverse subject | Surveying compass |
| Themes | statesman,architecture,industry |
| Watermark | Portrait of Prince Pribina in clear field at left |
| Security features | thread, microprint, intaglio, latent_image |
| Colour palette | #8fbc8f,#f0e68c,#8b4513 |
| Material | paper |
| Dimensions (mm) | 140x69 |
| Language / script | Latin |
| Languages | sk |
| Pick # | P-19a |
| Rarity | common |
| Legal status | demonetized |
| Legal status date | 2009-01-01 |
| Predecessor currency | Czechoslovak koruna |
| Successor currency | Euro |
| Era | 1990_present |
| Default value (low) | 2.0 |
| Default value (high) | 5.0 |
| Value currency | USD |
Front
Prince Pribina (c. 800–861), ruler of the Principality of Nitra, the first documented Slavic ruler in Slovak territory and founder of the first Christian church in present-day Slovakia at Nitra in 828. He is honoured on this note as a symbol of Slovak statehood and early Christianity in the region. The note displays the Slovak coat of arms (double cross on three hills) and was issued during Slovakia's first year as an independent nation following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993.
Back
Surveying compass and the inscription 'DVAKRÁT SEDEM' (meaning 'twice seven' or double measurement), representing precision, measurement, and technical achievement. The design symbolizes Slovakia's scientific and engineering traditions. The compass appears alongside geometric patterns that evoke topographic mapping and land surveying, important to national development and territorial definition in the newly independent state.
History
This 20 koruna note belongs to the first banknote series issued by Národná banka Slovenska (National Bank of Slovakia) in 1993, immediately following Slovak independence from Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993. The series was designed to establish a distinct national identity through historical figures and symbols. The notes were printed by Giesecke+Devrient and featured portraits of important Slovak historical rulers and cultural figures. This particular design remained in circulation until Slovakia adopted the euro on 1 January 2009. The visible serial format with prefix letter V followed by numbers is consistent with the first printing runs of 1993. Governor Vladimír Masár served from the bank's founding in 1993 through 1999, providing additional confirmation of the issue period.
