Slovakia - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Slovakia, a landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, and Hungary has a total land area of 18,932 square miles and a population of over 5.4 million. Slovakia is mostly mountainous and has many scenic lakes and valleys. The country is classified as a high-income advanced economy. Since the breakup of Czechoslovakia, it has moved on to a market-driven economy, following privatization of its government sectors. Slovakia benefits from its low wages, low tax rates and educated labor force particularly when it comes to foreign investors. The major sectors of its economy are services, industry (automobile assembly, and electrical engineering) and tourism. Its capital Bratislava is also a major transportation hub.

Travel Resources: 

May through September is the best time to visit Slovakia. Its major attractions are its scenic landscape, caves, castles, architecture and ski resorts. Its thermal spas, springs and natural mineral waters are known for their healing properties. Visitors usually engage in cycling, fishing, canoeing, skiing and boating while in Slovakia.The major towns are Bratislava and High Tatras. A variety of meats are washed down with wine or beer in Slovakia – pork, beef, poultry, lamb, goat, rabbit, boar and venison. Bryndzove Halusky (Potato dumplings with bryndza sheep cheese and bacon) is a national dish of Slovakia. An everyday fare would be roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut.

Resource	ISBN or ASIN	Best Price	Description
Slovakia: The Bradt Travel Guide	978-1841621883	$19	Best guide book available on Slovakia! Part I is introductory background and practical information for travelers covering 70 pages. Part II has chapters on Bratislava, Bratislava Region, Trnava Region, Trencin Region, Nitra Region, Zilina Region, Banska Bystrica Region, Presov Region, and Kosice Region.
Slovakia Travel Map	978-1553413998	$12	1:300,000 Scale. Includes inset map of Bratislava and Kosice.
Slovakia Grounded Adapter Plug – GUB	B001FD5CWM	$8

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of Slovakia were a long set of twenty-two stamps released in 1939 that were red or blue overprints on stamps of Czechoslovakia from the 1928 to 1939 timefame. The set (Scott #2 to #23) catalogs for around $225 mint or used. The stamps are sought after but acquiring one can be problematic due to the existence of excellent counterfeits. The set was followed in April of 1939 by another set of two stamps showing a portrait of Andrej Hlinka and an overprint in blue that reads ‘Slovensky Stat’. The set is inexpensive and catalogs for around a dollar mint or used. There are varieties with shorter perforations (10.5) and compound perforations (10.5x12.5) that catalog into the 100s. The first original issue were a set of eight stamps released in 1939 showing a portrait of Andrej Hlinka in a slightly different design. The set (Scott #26 to #33) catalogs for around $10 mint and around $5 used. Stamps of Austro-Hungarian Empire were used in Slovakia during the period till 1918 and from 1918 to 1939 stamps of Czechoslovak Republic were used in Slovakia. It became a dependency of Nazi Germany during World War II and following the war, it became a part of Czechoslovakia till December 31, 1992.

Other issues of Slovakia enjoying good philatelic interest include:

1. A set of eight stamps released on March 14, 1944 in the Prince and Kings theme. The set (Scott #95 to #102) catalogs for around $5 mint and around $4 used. The designs show Prince Pribina, Prince Mojmir, Prince Ratislav, King Svatopluk, Prince Kocel, Prince Mojmir II, Prince Svatopluk II, and Prince Braslav.
2. A set of six stamps released between 1993 and 1995 in the Castles and Churches. The set (Scott #152 to #157) catalogs for around $10 MNH and around half that for used. The designs show Nitra, Banska Bystrica, Ruzomberok, Kosice, Zvolen, and Bratislava.
3. A set of three stamps released on July 19, 1995 showing UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The set (Scott #228 to #230) catalogs for around $2 MNH and around a dollar for used. The designs show Banska Stiavnica, Spissky Hrad, and Vlkolinec.
4. A set of two stamps released on September 22, 2005 in the Locomotives theme. The set (Scott #486 to #487) catalogs for around $4 MNH and around half that for used. The designs show Ciernohronska Railroad, and Vychylovka.

Numismatic Profile:

The first coins of Slovakia were Republic Standard Coinage (100 Halierov = 1 Koruna Slovenska) Bronze Halierovs released in 1939 showing Double cross with shield above sprigs in Obverse and Castle and denomination in Reverse. The issue has very high mintage (15M) but still catalogs for around $10 in UNC. In recent times, Slovakia has issued a number of silver commemorative proofs in low mintage and they trade at a slight premium over bullion value.

Numismatic items of Slovakia include:

Item	Price Range	Description
Coins	$1 and up	Recent Halierovs in UNC starts around $1. Recent UNC Sets, Early Silver coins, etc start around $10. Silver UNCs, Commemorative Proofs, etc starts around $30. Low Mintage Silver Proofs start around $50 and go well into the 100s.
Paper Money	$2 and up	UNC Koruns from the 1980s onward starts around $2. Early Specimens in XF+, Consecutive Serial Number Commemorative Banknotes with 5-pieces or more in UNC, etc start around $10. Rare Specimen Sets, Bundles, etc start around $50 and go well into the 100s.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Typical souvenirs from Slovakia include handicrafts, crystal, glassware, ceramics, dolls dressed in folk costumes, and musical instruments.

Resource	Price Range	Description
Art	$15 and up	Original 19th century historically relevant photographs and art prints start around $15. Ex Libris Etchings by Karol Felix, Dusan Polakovic, Mariam Komacek, Jan Tapak, etc go into the 100s.
Pottery and Glass	$10 and up	Wall Pocket Birds, Lead Crystal Containers, etc start around $10. Shannon Crystal Candy Dishes, Majolica Modra Picthers, etc start around $50. Erphila Art Pottery curios, pottery pots, vases etc start around $100.
Miscellaneous Collectibles	$2 and up	Flags, Stickers, Postcards, etc start around $2. 19th century historically relevant photo prints and postcards start around $10. Large Statlactitic Crystal Mineral Samples, WW Badge Medals, etc start around $50. Piestany Folk Costumes, Ethnic Folk Vests, Cut Crystal Curios etc start around $100.

Last Updated: 12/2015.