NEW BOSNIAN PFENNIGS TO BE RELEASED SOON

( Editorial: --> 4002 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 29 (Hina) - The Central Bank of Bosnia-Herzegovina has ordered the manufacture of coins for the new Bosnian currency. The new Bosnian pfennigs should be released on the market before year's end together with the existing convertible marks. As Central Bank Governor Peter Nicholl said in Sarajevo on Tuesday, a decision on the manufacture and design of the new coins was made by international high representative for BH Carlos Westerndorp following consultations with and agreement from the Muslim and Croat representatives in the Bosnian Presidency. The coins, which will be valued at 10, 20 and 50 pfennigs, are designed so that the heads will portray the borders of BH, while the tails will portray the characteristic triangle and stars of the Bosnian flag. Westerndorp made the decision on the new coins due to a standstill in the functioning of central bodies of authority, in line with a Central Bank estimate that it is urgent to introduce coins to enable undisturbed payment flows in the country. Based on offers collected, it was decided that the coins would be manufactured by the British "Royal Mint". Coins to the value of 17 million convertible marks were ordered, while the cost of their production will be a little more than the said amount. Governor Nicholl stated he was satisfied with the way the new joint currency had been accepted in Bosnia. The currency has been released in all parts of the country, more or less, however it has been accepted as the official currency, said Nicholl. He confirmed that the convertible mark was in higher use in the Croat-Muslim Federation of BH than in Republika Srpska. This, he explained, was because the Bosnian Serb entity did not have sufficient funds to cover the costs of the unified Bosnian currency. (Hina) sp jn/ha 291521 MET sep 98