In an effort to foster international cooperation and cultural exchange, the NBS is marking the International Day of the Francophonie for the fourth year in a row. The central place of this year’s celebration is the Novi Sad branch of the French Cultural Centre.

On this occasion, in the “Matica srpska” gallery on 2 March 2010, His Excellency the French Ambassador to Serbia Jean Francois Terral opened the exhibition “Money in the Territory of Serbia – Printing of National Bank’s Banknotes in France – End-19th and Early 20th Century”. The opening ceremony was attended by mayor of Novi Sad Igor Pavličić and NBS Vice-Governor Bojan Marković.

On display is a part of the National Bank’s numismatic collection and a selection of National Bank’s banknotes manufactured in France until 1930 when the Serbian Institute for Manufacturing Banknotes and Coins began to operate. For the first time this year, visitors will have an opportunity to see the historical exhibits of the Institute for Manufacturing Banknotes and Coins. These are original wood and metal engravings of fronts and backs of banknotes made in France and banknote sketches and photographs made in the Institute.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, workshops in the French language will be held in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, as well as lectures for primary and secondary school students about the history of money, importance of savings, counterfeits and their features, financial products and NBS’s role and tasks.

The exhibition will run through 14 March 2010.