Serbia - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Serbia, a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe bordered by Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania has a total land area of 34,116 square miles and a population of over 7.3 million. Though Serbia is classified a humid subtropical climate, multiple geographical factors contribute to its climatic deviation from this classification. Though it is an upper-middle income economy, unemployment rate is high which the country is hoping to tame in the coming years. Its economy is based mainly on services, industry and agriculture. It is the leading frozen fruit exporter of the world.

Travel Resources: 

July through early October are considered the best time to visit Serbia for most of the cultural festivals take place then. A third of Serbia is blanketed in green which includes the national parks and nature reserves.Visitors come mainly to absorb its scenic mountains and villages, and to catch its various festivals. Christian pilgrim tours are also popular. Serbian cuisine varies across regions and many cultures have contributed to it. However traditional Serbian dishes such as  cevapi, pljeskavica, and gibanica are enjoyed not only in Serbia, but also by its neighbors.

Resource	ISBN or ASIN	Best Price	Description
Serbia Bradt Travel Guide	978-1841623269	$17	Best travel guide book on Serbia! A very good traveler’s introduction covering over 90 pages followed by sections on Belgrade, Along the Danube, Central Serbia, Vojvodina, West and Southwest Serbia, and East and Southeast Serbia.
Serbia and Montenegro Map	978-9630080538	$13	1:500,000 Scale. Includes Inset Map of Belgrade.
Serbia-Montenegro Grounded Adapter Plug – GUB	B0016ZU3HS	$7

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of Serbia were a set of three stamps released in 1866 in the Coat of Arms theme. The set (Scott #1 to #3) catalogs for around $150. The issue was followed in the same year by three other sets (Scott #4 to #6, #7 to #10, and #11 to #13), all depicting a portrait of Prince Michael (Obrenovich III). The first set is the most valuable and catalogs for around $1600 mint and around $650 used. The other two sets catalogs in the $200 range. A variety released between 1868 and 1889 (Scott #14 to #15) catalogs for around $100. Counterfeits of this design are common. A couple of sets featuring Prince Milan (Obrenovich IV) formed the stamp issues of Serbia during the period till 1890. Those sets (Scott #16 to #24 and #25 to #26) are also valuable and sought after cataloging for around $110 and $5 respectively for mint and around $135 and $10 respectively for used.

The first King Alexander (Obrenovich V) issues appeared in 1890 and that theme along with certain overprints continued until the turn of the century. Chief among them was a set of eight stamps released between 1894 and 1896. The set (Scott #40 to #47) catalogs for around $100 mint and around $10 used. A variety of the same set in different colors and denominations released between 1898 and 1900 (Scott #48 to #54) catalogs for around $75 mint and around $5 used.

Other issues of Serbia enjoying good philatelic interest include:

1. A set of seven stamps released in 1915 portraying King Peter and Military Staff. The set (Scott #132 to #138) catalogs for around $40 mint. Used copies do not exist as it was not issued for postal use. It was printed for use as emergency wartime currency. There are copies of the 15p denomination (Scott #134) in blue instead of slate color because of a plate error. The error variety catalogs for around $250. On June 28, 1914 the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia and the resulting chain reaction was the start of World War I. Following the war in which Serbia lost a majority of its male population, it joined the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs under the reign of King Peter I. It was later renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
2. A set of two stamps released on April 3, 2003 in the Council of Europe theme. The set (Scott #180 to #181) catalogs for around two dollars MNH or used. The design shows a map of Europe with small stars in a circular pattern. Stamps from the period use the Dinar denomination and/or Euros. Those with just the Euro denomination were issued for use in Montenegro while the others were issued for use in both areas.
3. A set of eight stamps released on March 31, 2005 in the Europa theme. The set (Scott #286 to #293) catalogs for around $8 MNH or used. It was issued to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Europa stamps.

Numismatic Profile:

The first coins of Serbia were Kingdom Standard Coinage Bronze Paras issued in 1868 showing head portrait of Obrenovich Michael III in Obverse. It has high mintage (7.5M) but still catalogs in the $75 range for UNC. The first gold coins were 0.09333 troy ounce 10 Dinaras issued in 1882 showing head portrait of Milan I in Obverse with Crown and Denomination in Reverse. The issue has mintage of 300K and catalogs for a premium over bullion value.

Numismatic items of Serbia include:

Item	Price Range	Description
Coins	$2 and up	Common Dinaras in UNC starts around $2. Recent Year Sets starts around $10. Silver Coins from the 19th century in XF starts around $20. Rare low mintage varieties starts around $50. Gold Coins go well into the 100s.
Paper Money	$1 and up	Common Dinaras in UNC starts around $1. ZA Replacements, Consecutive Serial Number UNCs with 5-pieces or more, etc starts around $10. Recent UNC Bundles, Rare Specimens, etc start around $50 and go well into the 100s.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Resource	Price Range	Description
Art	$10 and up	Prints showing Serbian Folk Costumes start around $10. Original WW photos start around $20. Original works by Zoran Mandich and other well known artists start in the 100s.
Antiques	$10 and up	19th century maps start around $10. Older and Rarer maps go into the 100s.
Militaria	$5 and up	Serbian Army Oval Patches, Bush Hats, Face Masks, etc start around $5. Uniforms and Commemorative Medals start around $30. Authentic Combat Helmets and Officer Visor Caps start around $50. Military Merit Order and Medals, Order of Labor Medals, etc go into the 100s.

Last Updated: 12/2015.