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The Yugoslavia 250 Dinara 1984 Proof silver coin (KM#107), commemorating the village of Jajce, is one of the most culturally significant and aesthetically detailed issues in the coin series released to celebrate the XIV Winter Olympic Games held in Sarajevo in 1984. As the culmination of a multi-year commemorative program, this final silver proof entry in the 250 Dinara series stands out for its tribute to Yugoslavia’s deep historical roots and its iconic architectural and natural heritage. Struck in sterling silver with a proof finish, the coin honors Jajce’s unique place in Yugoslav history and its symbolic value as a site of unity and identity.
The obverse of the coin features the emblem of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, identical to the design used across the Olympic coin series. Six torches, representing the six constituent republics, rise into a single unified flame—a potent image of brotherhood and unity. The torches are surrounded by wheat sheaves tied with a ribbon bearing the founding date “29-XI-1943,” referencing the Second AVNOJ meeting held in Jajce during World War II, where the foundation for postwar socialist Yugoslavia was laid. The bilingual inscriptions “СФР ЈУГОСЛАВИЈА” and “SFR JUGOSLAVIJA” (Cyrillic and Latin) surround the national emblem. In proof condition, the contrast between the frosted devices and the highly reflective fields enhances the emblem’s solemnity and precision.
The reverse of the coin is devoted to the town of Jajce, located in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, and depicts its distinctive medieval citadel perched above the Vrbas and Pliva rivers. The coin captures the fortress walls, towers, cascading waterfall, and surrounding buildings, blending natural and architectural elements into a single, flowing composition. This iconic landscape is framed above by the Olympic rings, tying the cultural-historical subject to the modern international games. The upper legend reads “XIV ZIMSKE OLIMPIJSKE IGRE – SARAJEVO 1984,” translating to “14th Winter Olympic Games – Sarajevo 1984.” The date “1984” and denomination “250 DINARA” appear along the bottom edge. The reverse design successfully balances historical reverence with visual dynamism, offering a detailed and dignified representation of the famed Yugoslav town.
Struck in .925 fine silver (sterling), the coin weighs 30 grams and has a diameter of 40 millimeters, providing ample canvas for fine detail and sharp proof striking. The coin was minted at the official Yugoslav Mint in Belgrade with advanced proof techniques, ensuring a flawless finish and precise articulation of the design. The frosted architectural and natural features of Jajce stand out brilliantly against the deep mirror-like fields, particularly when viewed under angled light, as is typical of high-grade numismatic proofs.
The 1984 Jajce 250 Dinara coin was issued in a limited mintage, consistent with other coins in the series, with approximately 25,000 pieces struck. Each coin was issued in a hard clamshell presentation case—typically blue or burgundy—with a velvet interior and an accompanying certificate of authenticity. These sets were sold both domestically and internationally, as part of Yugoslavia’s effort to highlight its cultural richness in conjunction with the 1984 Winter Olympics. When found intact with original packaging and certification, the coin carries additional premium for collectors seeking complete and original issues.
In Proof (PF) condition, the coin should be flawless or near-flawless, exhibiting clean mirrored fields, no hairlines or blemishes, and strong contrast between devices and fields (often described as Deep Cameo when submitted to grading services). Many well-preserved examples receive PF69 or PF70 grades when slabbed by third-party graders such as NGC or PCGS. For collectors who prefer raw coins, those that remain untouched in their original mint capsules are typically considered the most desirable.
Thematically, this coin is deeply significant. Jajce was not only a medieval royal seat of the Bosnian Kingdom but also a site of immense political importance in modern Yugoslav history. It was at Jajce in November 1943 that the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ) formally rejected the Yugoslav monarchy and laid the groundwork for a federated socialist republic, giving Jajce almost mythic status in the Yugoslav state narrative. As such, its depiction on a coin celebrating the Sarajevo Olympics was both a commemoration of Yugoslavia’s ancient and modern foundations and a reaffirmation of unity and identity in the eyes of the world.
The 1984 Jajce coin rounds out the series of silver commemoratives that included sports themes (such as ice hockey and skiing), architectural features (like the Sarajevo cityscape), and cultural symbols (including the Radimlja tombstones and Bronze Age artifacts). The Jajce coin uniquely combines both architectural and historical meaning, marking it as the symbolic climax of the series. For collectors assembling a full Olympic or Yugoslav silver coin set, it is a crucial inclusion and is often among the most visually compelling and historically weighty issues.
Beyond its Olympic association, the Jajce coin is also appreciated in broader contexts—among collectors of Balkan history, architectural depictions in numismatics, and modern European silver coinage. Its blend of cultural, political, and natural imagery makes it an artifact that captures the essence of a nation at a specific historical moment—on the eve of hosting the world during a peaceful, celebratory event that would be one of the last major expressions of Yugoslav unity before the country’s eventual dissolution in the 1990s.
The Yugoslavia 250 Dinara 1984 KM#107 Proof silver coin depicting the village of Jajce is not only an Olympic commemorative, but a profound statement of heritage and national pride. With its strong artistic design, sterling silver composition, and limited proof mintage, it continues to attract collectors seeking to preserve and celebrate the complex and rich story of the former Yugoslavia. It remains a crown jewel in the 1984 Sarajevo Olympic series and an enduring tribute to the historical heart of the region.