Croatia. Latest Gold and Silver Coins in Croatian Innovators Series Features Visionary Inventor

The third coin subject in the popular numismatic series entitled Croatian Innovators pays tribute to visionaries and inventors whose work has helped shape the modern world. Featured for 2025 is Slavoljub Penkala (1871 – 1922) one of the most versatile inventors of the early 20th century. Penkala’s inventions have left a lasting mark on the history of science, industry, and technology and, during his career, he patented over 80 inventions. His work and contributions to science and industry have left a lasting impact on both Croatian and world history.

Born as Eduard Penkala in the town of Liptószentmiklós, present-day Liptovský Mikuláš in Slovakia and part of the Empire of Austria-Hungary, his father Franciszek Pękała was of Polish heritage. After attending the Faculty of Medicine in Vienna at the University of Vienna and the Royal Saxon Polytechnic Institute, he graduated from the latter in March 1898 and went on to earn a doctorate in organic chemistry. After completing his studies, Penkala held a position at the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Finance.

On the 24th January 1906, he was granted a patent for the world's first mechanical pencil, the popular ballpoint pen, and the following year in 1907 the first fountain pen with an ink cartridge. Along with his business partner Edmund Moster, they opened the  Penkala pen factory in Zagreb. For the next 15 years the production facility was one of the largest writing instrument factories in the world and Penkala mechanical pens and fountain pens were exported to more than 70 countries. However, despite the advantages of a modern production facility, the demand for new pens increased so much that production could not meet the needs of the market at the time. As a way of honouring his new homeland, Penkala became a naturalised citizen of Croatia and adopted the name Slavoljub which is a Croatian word for ‘slavophile’. Ultimately, his surname Penkala came to be used to refer to ballpoint pens in the Croatian language.

Penkala was much more than just the inventor of the well-known automatic mechanical pencil. He was a symbol of the innovative spirit at the turn of the 20th century. During his career, he was granted over 80 patents, including an invention for the first Croatian aircraft to fly in the country. The Penkala 1910 Biplane was also piloted by Dragutin Novak, remembered as the first Croatian pilot. Sadly, while on business travel, he met with bad weather and became very sick after returning home, dying from pneumonia at the young age of 50. He was survived by his wife and four children and was laid to rest in the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb. Today, Penkala’s name and work remains a part of cultural and scientific heritage both in the Republic of Croatia and the world.

The gold and silver proof quality coins share the same design and are produced by the Croatian Mint at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja on behalf of the Croatian National Bank. The coins are designed by Italian artist Ilaria Longo who has featured a familiar image of Slavoljub Penkala on the obverse recreated from a marketing photograph. To the left of the image of Penkala is the year of issue 2025 and to the right is a replica of the familiar Penkala logo which was used on presentation and adverts. In the background are rectangular shapes symbolizing stamps and postcards. The reverse side features the depiction of Penkala’s automatic mechanical pen, the tip is shown through the perspective of the magnifying glass, and behind are squares referencing the coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia. In the background, and matching that of the obverse are rectangular shapes symbolising postcards and postage stamp outlines. To the lower right is the denomination 100 EURO (gold) or 4 EURO (silver). Along the lower right rim is the text REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA.

Available from the 11th July, each proof coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a numbered certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Croatian Mint.