# Slovenian tolar

The tolar was the currency of Slovenia from 8 October 1991 until the introduction of the euro on 1 January 2007. It was subdivided into 100 stotinov (cents). The ISO 4217 currency code for the Slovenian tolar was SIT. From October 1991 until June 1992, the acronym SLT was in use.

## History

The name tolar comes from Thaler, and is cognate with dollar. The tolar was introduced on 8 October 1991. It replaced the 1990 (Convertible) version of Yugoslav dinar at parity. On 28 June 2004, the tolar was pegged against the euro in the ERM II, the European Union exchange rate mechanism. All recalled banknotes can be exchanged at the central bank for current issue.

### Phase-out

On 1 January 2007, the tolar was supplanted by the euro. Slovenia issues its own euro coins, like all other nations in the Eurozone.
The timescale for conversion from the tolar to the euro operated differently from the first wave of European Monetary Union (EMU). The permanent euro/tolar conversion rate was finalised on 11 July 2006 at 239.640 tolar per euro. Unlike the first wave of EMU, this period was only a day (the conversion rates were fixed on 31 December 1998 and euro non-cash payments were possible from 1 January 1999). Also unlike the first wave of EMU which had a three-year transition period (1999–2001), there was no transition period when non-cash payments could be made in both tolar and euro. The tolar was used for all transactions (cash and non-cash) until 31 December 2006 and the euro was compulsory to use for all payments (cash and non-cash) from 1 January 2007. However, as with the first wave of EMU, cash payments with the tolar could continue until 14 January 2007, but change had to be given in euro.

## Coins

In 1992, coins were introduced in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 stotinov (10, 20 and 50 stotins), 1 tolar, 2 tolarja and 5 tolarjev (2 and 5 tolars). 10 tolarjev (10 tolars) coins were added in 2000, followed by 20 and 50 tolarjev (20 and 50 tolars) in 2003. The obverse designs all show the denomination, with animals native to Slovenia on the reverses. The coins were designed by Miljenko Licul and Zvone Kosovelj and featured reliefs of animals by Janez Boljka.
The Only Series :
| Image | Value | Equivalent in euros (€) | Technical parameters | Technical parameters | Technical parameters | Technical parameters | Description | Description | Description | Date of | Date of |
| Image | Value | Equivalent in euros (€) | Diameter | Thickness | Mass | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | first minting | issue |
| | 10 stotinov (10 stotins) | 0.04 cent | 16 mm | 1.3 mm | 0.55 g | 98% aluminium 2% magnesium | Plain | Value, state title, year of minting | Olm, "PROTEUS ANGUINUS" | | 29 April 1993 |
| | 20 stotinov (20 stotins) | 0.08 cent | 18 mm | 1.3 mm | 0.7 g | 98% aluminium 2% magnesium | Plain | Value, state title, year of minting | Long-eared owl, "ASIO OTUS" | | 29 April 1993 |
| | 50 stotinov (50 stotins) | 0.21 cent | 20 mm | 1.3 mm | 0.85 g | 98% aluminium 2% magnesium | Plain | Value, state title, year of minting | Western honey bee, "APIS MELLIFERA" | | 4 January 1993 |
| | 1 tolar (1 tolar) | 0.42 cent | 22 mm | 1.7 mm | 4.5 g | 78% copper 20% zinc 2% nickel | Milled | Value, state title, year of minting | Brown trout, Salmo trutta fario | | 4 January 1993 |
| | 2 tolarja (2 tolars) | 0.83 cent | 24 mm | 1.7 mm | 5.4 g | 78% copper 20% zinc 2% nickel | Milled | Value, state title, year of minting | Barn swallow, "HIRUNDO RUSTICA" | | 4 January 1993 |
| | 5 tolarjev (5 tolars) | 2.09 cent | 26 mm | 1.7 mm | 6.4 g | 78% copper 20% zinc 2% nickel | Milled | Value, state title, year of minting | Alpine ibex, "CAPRA IBEX" | | 4 January 1993 |
| | 10 tolarjev (10 tolars) | 4.17 cent | 22 mm | 2 mm | 5.75 g | Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel | Milled | Value, state title, year of minting | Horse, "EQUUS" | | 19 April 2000 |
| | 20 tolarjev (20 tolars) | 8.35 cent | 24 mm | 2 mm | 6.85 g | Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel | Waved-edge milled | Value, state title, year of minting | White stork, "CICONIA CICONIA" | | 7 July 2003 |
| | 50 tolarjev (50 tolars) | 20.86 cent | 26 mm | 2 mm | 8 g | Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel | Alternating plain/ milled | Value, state title, year of minting | Bull, "TAURUS TAURUS" | | 7 July 2003 |
| These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table. ||||||||||||

## Banknotes

The first banknotes were provisional payment notes issued on 8 October 1991, in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 5000 tolarjev (0.50 and 2000 tolarjev notes were also printed, but never issued; one thousand sets with matching serial numbers were sold for 5,000 tolarjev each beginning on 6 May 2002). These notes all feature Triglav, the tallest mountain in Slovenia, on the front, and the Prince's Stone, honeycomb pattern, and Carniolan honey bee on the back.
In 1992, the Bank of Slovenia introduced the following banknotes, all of which feature notable Slovenes. The banknotes were designed by Miljenko Licul and coauthors, with portraits drawn by Rudi Španzel. They were printed by the British company De La Rue on paper produced in Radeče, Slovenia.
1992 Series :
| Image | Value | Euro equivalent | Dimensions (mm) | Main colour | Description | Description | Date of | Date of |
| Image | Value | Euro equivalent | Dimensions (mm) | Main colour | Obverse | Reverse | first printing | issue |
| | 10 tolarjev | €0.04 | 120 × 60 | Green | Primož Trubar | Ursuline Church in Ljubljana Motif from the New Testament | 15 January 1992 | 27 November 1992 |
| | 20 tolarjev | €0.08 | 126 × 63 | Orange | Johann Weikhard von Valvasor | Angels from The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola by Valvasor Segments of the map of Slovenia | 15 January 1992 | 28 December 1992 |
| | 50 tolarjev | €0.21 | 132 × 66 | Violet | Jurij Vega | Solar System Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts | 15 January 1992 | 19 March 1993 |
| | 100 tolarjev | €0.42 | 138 × 69 | Yellow | Rihard Jakopič | The Sun by Jakopič Plan of the former Jakopič Pavilion | 15 January 1992 | 30 September 1992 |
| | 200 tolarjev | €0.83 | 144 × 72 | Brown | Jacobus Gallus | Slovenian Philharmonic Hall Musical notations | 15 January 1992 | 22 February 1993 |
| | 500 tolarjev | €2.09 | 150 × 75 | Red | Jože Plečnik | National and University Library of Slovenia | 15 January 1992 | 30 September 1992 |
| | 1000 tolarjev | €4.17 | 156 × 78 | Blue green | France Prešeren | Text from Zdravljica by Prešeren | 15 January 1992 | 30 September 1992 |
| | 5000 tolarjev | €20.86 | 156 × 78 | Brown | Ivana Kobilca | National Gallery of Slovenia Robba fountain | 1 June 1993 | 13 December 1993 |
| | 10 000 tolarjev | €41.73 | 156 × 78 | Purple | Ivan Cankar | Chrysanthemum Cankar's handwriting | 28 June 1994 | 15 March 1995 |
| For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |||||||||

## Historical exchange rates

Lower number indicates the tolar has a higher value.
* SIT per EUR – 233.0 (April 2006); 239.5 (June 2005); 235.7 (November 2003); 227.3 (June 2002). From 1 January 2007 the rate was irrevocably set at 239.640 and has been finalised by the European Commission.
* SIT per USD – 193.0 (April 2006); 198.0 (June 2005); 201.3 (November 2003); 195.06 (January 2000); 181.77 (1999); 166.13 (1998); 159.69 (1997); 135.36 (1996); 118.52 (1995).