Slovakia
The Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic went their separate ways after 1 January 1993, an event sometimes called the Velvet Divorce. Slovakia has remained a close partner with the Czech Republic. Both countries co-operate with Hungary and Poland in the Visegrád Group. Slovakia became a member of NATO on 29 March 2004 and of the European Union on 1 May 2004. On 1 January 2009, Slovakia adopted the Euro as its national currency.
Coins of the Slovak koruna (1939–45)
The coins of the World War II Slovak koruna (slovak: "koruna slovenská") were the first coins ever minted by a Slovak state. These coins were minted in the Kremnica mint, once the common state mint of the whole Czechoslovak state. Coins carried not only monetary but also propaganda function: they showed the symbols of the Slovak nation and the just born independent Slovak state. Lower denominations were made of base metals, while those above 5 Ks contained silver.