Description
To mark the 140th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of Slovenia’s central museum building, to honor the country’s only natural history museum, and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the issuance of commemorative banknotes in Europe, a unique commemorative and collectible numismatic item has been released. The commemorative banknote bears a special mark, as this year marks a decade since the introduction of such banknotes in Europe. Although it is not legal tender, the banknote closely resembles a real euro note at first glance. Its size is nearly identical to the 20-euro note, and its purple color is reminiscent of the 500-euro note. It is printed on cotton paper at the same printing house (Oberthur Fiduciaire in France) and includes all the same security features as a genuine euro banknote. Commemorative banknotes are extremely popular among collectors across Europe, including Slovenia. Its value may even increase over time, as it has been printed in a limited edition of just 3,000 pieces. The design features a collage of three elements, skillfully combined into a unified motif by renowned designer Matjaž Učakar. The first element is the 140-year-old Neo-Renaissance museum building, a symbol of the history of our cultural heritage. It was the first building in Slovenia constructed solely for cultural purposes. Today, it houses both the Slovenian Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Slovenia under one roof. The second element is a mammoth skeleton, discovered in Nevlje near Kamnik, which serves as a symbol and recognizable emblem of the Slovenian Museum of Natural History. The third element is Zois’s Bellflower (Campanula zoysii), a rare flower that grows only in the southeastern limestone Alps. It is a symbol of the Alpine Botanical Garden Juliana in Trenta, managed by the Slovenian Museum of Natural History. This is the oldest alpine botanical garden in Slovenia and will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.
