Kuna is the official monetary unit in Croatia. The abbreviations are "kn" and "HRK". 1 kuna equals 100 lipa.

The "keeper" of the currency is the Croatian National Bank. See their web pages at http://www.hnb.hr/ for more information on kunas, including pictures of the actual banknotes.

Kuna is officially linked (compared) to the Euro, and currently 1 Euro can be exchanged for around 7.5 kuna (2003).

The word kuna means marten in Croatian, and the word lipa means linden.
This was introduced ten years ago after using other currencies such as crown and dinar for decades and even centuries, so it was a bit hard for the citizens to get accustomed to talking about trading with wild animals and trees. :-)

kn

1 kuna (kn) = 100 lipa (lp)

Translation:
kuna = marten
lipa = linden

The kuna (international: HRK) is the legal currency used in the Republic of Croatia (Republika Hrvatska). It first appeared in 1256 when a local currency bearing a marten was issued in Slavonia (Slavonija), where the marten appears on its coat of arms. The kuna has its orgins in ancient times when the marten's fur was used as a trading unit, but the currency was not used continuously throughout Croatia's turbulent history due to the introduction of Austro-Hungarian Crowns centuries ago, followed more recently by Yugoslav Dinars in the 20th century. The modern kuna was reissued in 1993, following Croatia's regained independence in 1991.

Banknotes

Kuna banknotes are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000, each bearing numerous security features and the full text of the Croatian national anthem (Lijepa naša - Our Beautiful (Homeland)) in micro-printing. Each bill also features historical Croatian figures on the front and famous Croatian landmarks on the back, as listed below:

• 5 kn: Ban (Viceroy) Petar Zrinjski (1621-1671) and Knez (Duke) Fran Krsto Frankopan (1643-1671), Croatian noblemen who pushed for Croatian independence from Austria and were subsequently beheaded, on the front; the keep of Varaždin Fortress on the back.
• 10 kn: Juraj Dobrila (1812-1882), Bishop of Poreč and Trieste who promoted Croatian cultural rights and the Croatian language; Roman amphitheatre in Pula.
• 20 kn: Ban Josip Jelačić (1801-1859), military hero of the revolutions of 1848 in Austria-Hungary who united Croatia and ended serfdom; Eltz Castle in Vukovar and the Vučedol Dove.
• 50 kn: Ivan Gundulić (1589-1638), prince of the Dubrovnik (Ragusan) republic and the greatest poet of Croatian Renaissance literature; old Dubrovnik.
• 100 kn: Ivan Mažuranić (1814-1890), first non-aristocrat to be named Ban and a celebrated writer, alongside a fragment of the Baška Tablet; St. Vitus Church in Rijeka.
• 200 kn: Stjepan Radić (1871-1928), political leader who protested the Serbian occupation following World War I and who was assassinated in the Belgrade parliament; Town Command in Osijek.
• 500 kn: Marko Marulić (1450-1524), great Croatian writer and humanist; Diocletian's Palace in Split and a figure of the Croatian king from the 11th century (presumably Zvonimir).
• 1000 kn: Ante Starčević (1823-1896), the foremost advocate of his time for the Croatian state; monument to Tomislav, the first Croatian king (coronated around 910), and the front of Zagreb Cathedral.

Coins

Kuna and lipa coins are issued in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 lipa, and 1, 2, 5, and 25 kuna.

• 1 lp: Flowering linden with national crest; two ears of corn.
• 2 lp: Flowering linden with national crest and traditional Croatian plait; grapevines with bunches of grapes.
• 5 lp: Flowering linden with national crest; oak branch.
• 10 lp: Flowering linden with national crest and traditional Croatian plait; flowering tobacco plant.
• 20 lp: Flowering linden with national crest and traditional Croatian plait; olive branch.
• 50 lp: Flowering linden with national crest and traditional Croatian plait; Velebit degenia sprig.
• 1 kn: Running marten with national crest, olive branch, and wheat sheaf; singing nightingale.
• 2 kn: Running marten with national crest, oak and laurel branches; swimming tuna.
• 5 kn: Running marten with national crest, oak and laurel branches; brown bear.
• 25 kn: Bi-metallic commemorative coin. Running marten on the front; various motifs ranging from the First Croatian Esperanto Congress (!) and admission to the UN, to the Euro and the millennium, on the back.

For even more detail (yes, more), the Croatian National Bank has excellent photos accompanied by lots of data (for each banknote and coin!) at the following URL:

http://www.hnb.hr/novcan/enovcan.htm

Of course, time marches on and this beautiful currency will soon be replaced by the Euro...