ZAGREB, 5 Jan (Hina) – Some 2.17 billion kuna coins with a total value of HRK 1.16 billion remain in circulation, along with 74.28 million banknotes of the former currency worth HRK 3.05 billion, according to the Croatian National Bank (HNB) as of the end of December, when the deadline for exchanging kuna coins for euros expired.

By the end of last year, the HNB said in response to a query from Hina, a total of 470.69 million banknotes and 828.31 million coins had been withdrawn.

Compared with the number of kuna coins in circulation and held in HNB reserves on 31 July 2022, the last day of the month in which the decision was taken to adopt the euro, 27.6% of coins by volume had been returned, representing 43.8% by value.

“That share is in line with the experience of other euro area members, where returns ranged from 23% to nearly 50%, as well as with the the HNB’s expectations, given that Croatia is a tourist country and kuna are spread around the world,” the central bank said. “One significant reason for holding on to kuna is sentiment, meaning many citizens will keep part of their cash unexchanged.”

Croatia joined the euro area on 1 January 2023. The HNB will continue to exchange kuna banknotes for euros indefinitely, while the deadline for exchanging coins expired at the end of 2025.

In December, the HNB handled an average of 247 kuna-to-euro exchange transactions per day, with an average transaction value of HRK 2,001.92. From January to the end of September 2025, the daily average was 137 transactions, with an average value of HRK 2,467.05. The smallest single amount exchanged was HRK 0.50, while the largest reached HRK 542,000.