IN A PUBLIC vote organized by the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), Slovaks expressed their wish that the rear side of the country's euro coins should carry the motif of the Slovak Lorraine cross with a three-hill foreground. The motif gained over 33,000 votes, which people sent via the Internet, text message or by telephone, the daily SME wrote.
More than 140,000 people took part in the vote. There were 10 designs entered. The second most popular design featured Kriváň peak (25,000 votes), followed by Bratislava Castle (22,000).
The NBS will take the public opinion into consideration in December when it decides which motif will actually be on the rear side of the coins.
The NBS estimated that by January 1, 2009, when the euro is due to become legal tender in Slovakia, some 400 million coins with nominal values of 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro and 2 euros, will be produced. It is expected that the Slovak mint in Kremnica will manufacture the coins.
