5 lipa

Published: 31/1/2015

Metal composition: steel core covered with bronze

Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 2.5 g

Motif on the obverse: the centre of the coin features the denomination numeral and currency name "5 LIPA" against the background showing a stylised blooming linden branch. The inscription "REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA" is displayed circularly along the edge of the coin. Positioned centrally along the lower edge is the coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia.

LINDEN TREE
The linden tree (lipa) is a sacred Slavic tree whose symbolism has been preserved in legends, stories and written history until present day. It is a honey bearing medicinal plant whose flowers are used in tea-making, one of the oldest known beverages for health and healing. The linden is an especially prized wood in carpentry and turnery. The linden is indigenous to Croatian forests and can be found in all parts of the country, a strong, tall tree that can live to an age of several hundred years.

Motif on the reverse: the centre of the coin features a stylised common oak branch with acorns. The inscription "HRAST LUŽNJAK" (Lat. QUERCUS ROBUR) is displayed above the image, circularly along the edge of the coin. The minting year is positioned centrally along the lower edge.

GROVE OAK
The common oak, known as the grove oak, is the most valuable forest species in Croatia. It covers an area of 40,000 hectares in the Spačva forest and is a unique single entity with no equal found anywhere else in Europe. Medicinal properties are attributed to it, it is an unavoidable feature of traditional construction work and is particularly prominent as the best barrel-wood. Slavonian oak wood is world-famous. In Slavic mythology, the oak is revered as a sacred tree.