The Foreigner's Guide to Living in Slovakia

This week, the state mint located in Kremnica began minting Slovak euro coins.

Slovaks are overwhelmingly pleased to be adopting the euro as it symbolizes permanence and continued integration into the EU, but I can imagine that there are those who will be a little sad to say goodbye to their current currency, the Slovak koruna, the first currency of truly independent Slovakia.

After Austria-Hungary, after the Nazis, and after Czechoslovakia came independent Slovakia. The introduction of the new national currency back in 1993 was an exciting time. Beautifully designed illustrations and a palate of vibrant colors meant that the koruna bank notes stood out not as just a currency but also as something that became part of Slovak legitimacy as a new country. Even though Slovaks didn’t have their national currency as long as, say, the Greeks (they had their drachma for 2,600 years), I can imagine there will be some who hold on to a few koruna notes for nostalgia. I know I will.

Then again, for Slovaks over the age of 16 the euro will be the third, fourth, or even fifth currency in their lifetime. After so many changes, the all but promised stability of the euro is definitely preferable.

Here’s something else Slovaks will have to get used to: a pocket full of coins. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cent coins, along with the 1 and 2 euro coin. That’s eight different coins. Goodness! If my Slovak grandma-in-law is an example of a typical tight-with-the-purse-strings shopper, I can imagine that lines at the check out are going to be a little longer come January as people sift through a handful of coins, making each one count. I’d be one of those people reaching for my debit card.

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