1000 kuna 1941

Common. eBay market data shows consistent sales across multiple grades spanning 15+ years (2010-2026), with prices ranging from under $1 for poor grades to approximately $40-50 for PMG 66 certified examples. UNC raw examples have sold for $7.98-$20.50, placing this note firmly in the common circulation for its denomination and era. The NDH's relatively large monetary circulation during its four-year existence, combined with the large denomination of 1000 Kuna, suggests substantial original print runs. No special print run restrictions or recall information exist to suggest rarity.

This banknote was issued during World War II by the puppet Independent State of Croatia (NDH), a Nazi-aligned regime that existed from 1941-1945. The note's imagery reflects the nationalist imagery of the period, with the woman's portrait symbolizing the Croatian nation and the Velebit mountains representing the geographical and cultural identity of Croatia. The May 1941 issue date marks the early period of the NDH's monetary independence, before the Kuna currency underwent multiple denominations and designs throughout the war years.

The obverse features a classical portrait of a young Croatian woman shown in left profile, rendered in fine engraving with period 1940s styling. She is positioned within an ornate circular medallion framed by Celtic-inspired interlocking geometric patterns that form the note's primary decorative border. The reverse depicts a scenic landscape of rolling hills or mountains (identified as the Velebit range in catalog references), rendered in traditional engraved landscape vignette style typical of interwar European currency design. Both sides employ symmetrical corner cartouches containing the denomination in ornate numerals, and are framed by elaborate geometric borders reflecting Croatian folk art motifs. The color scheme of warm browns and tans enhances the historical aesthetic while providing contrast for security purposes.

FRONT: 'NEZAVISNA DRŽAVA HRVATSKA' (Independent State of Croatia), '1000 KUNA' (1000 Kuna), 'ZAGREB 26. SVIBNJA 1941.' (Zagreb, 26th May 1941), 'MINISTAR NARODNOG GOSPODARSTVA' (Minister of National Economy), serial number 'Z0551317'. BACK: 'NEZAVISNA DRŽAVA HRVATSKA' (Independent State of Croatia), '1000 KUNA' (1000 Kuna), '1000' appears in decorative cartouches in all four corners, printer's mark indicating Giesecke & Devrient, Leipzig.

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) throughout, as evidenced by the fine detail visible in the portrait, landscape vignette, and ornate border patterns. The note was printed by Giesecke & Devrient of Leipzig (G&D), one of Europe's premier security printers. The multi-color printing in brown, tan, and red demonstrates the sophisticated color separation and registration typical of G&D's work during this period. The complexity of the interlocking geometric borders and fine line work in the portrait indicate deep-relief engraved plates rather than lithography.

Pick P-4a as identified in the PMG population report. This specimen represents the G&D (Giesecke & Devrient, Leipzig) printer variant. The serial number format 'Z0551317' indicates this is from the standard 1941 issue dated 26 May. The note shows no visible overprints, alternations, or errors. No replacement star notes (*) variants are evident in this example. According to PMG records, the P-4 Pick number encompasses at least one variant (P-4a with G&D printer), and this specimen conforms to standard P-4a specifications.