Croatia. Dalmatian Black Lizard Features on Latest Silver Ultra-High Relief Proof Coins

Launched in 2021 and entitled Indigenous Croatia the coins feature elements of the country and history which are quintessentially Croatian in origin. The second coin in this series focuses on the reptilian wildlife found on a remote island in the Adriatic. The species known as Podarcis melisellensis and its name is a reference to Melisello - the former name of Brusnik, a small islet in the Croatian Vis Archipelago. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, and pastureland. Aside from islands in Croatia, this species can also be spotted along the Adriatic Coast and numerous islands from north-eastern Italy to northern Albania. Also known as the black lizard, these small lizards with a length of up to 6.5 centre metres or 2.6 inches are found in abundance on the island of Brusnik and, according to tradition and stories passed down, the island itself was named after the harsh conditions in which the sea and winds constantly eroded and sharpened its hard-to-reach shores. Due to its geological history, marked by volcanic origin and the presence of porous limestone, this uninhabited island has been a protected natural monument since 1951, providing a home to numerous endemic species, and one of its inhabitants which enjoys the environment of crystal clear sea and colourful underwater landscapes, is the Brusnik lizard.

The silver ultra-high relief proof quality coins are produced by the Hrvatska Kovnica Novca - Croatian Mint at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja, Zagreb and on behalf of the National Bank. The coins are designed by Sculptor Nikola Vudrag who has included an elegant image of the Brusnik lizard seen in a close-up image with a map outline of the Island of Brusnik on the obverse side. To the left and along the rim is the text REPUBLKIA HRVATSKA and along the right rim is the local name of the Black Lizard CRNA GUŠTERICA. Just above the head of the lizard is the coin’s denomination 6 EURO. The reverse side includes a depiction of the Black lizard with skeletal and technical images in the background. To the left is a depiction of a black lizard shown in full length along with the year of issue, 2025. Along the right rim is the text PODARCIS MELISELLENSIS MELISELLENSIS which translates as Dalmatian black lizard.

Available from the 21^st January, each silver coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case designed by Dig Studio in Zagreb , which includes a decorative box, booklet and certificate signed by the Governor of the Croatian National Bank. For additional information on these and other coins issued by the National Bank of Croatia, please visit the e-webshop of the Croatian Mint.