Croatia Ditches Selected Euro Coin Design After Discovery Of Plagiarism

The Croatian National Bank is returning to the drawing board, or rather, re-accepting submissions, to replace the winning design it had selected for its new one-Euro coin after it was found to bear an uncanny resemblance to a photographer’s work.

With the country moving to accept the Euro currency, the bank launched a design contest for its upcoming coins. Artist Stjepan Pranjkovic was appointed the winner for the one-Euro coin with his graphic of a kuna, a weasel-like creature that inspired the name of the nation’s currency, standing on a branch. For his work, Pranjkovic was awarded 70,000 kunas (US$10,636).

The artwork was spotted by UK photographer Iain H. Leach, who thought that the illustration was almost identical to a photo he had taken in 2005, and copyrighted, of another species.

The photographer told The Scotsman that he was not consulted for the use of the image. “I have not received any official notification that my image has been used. I have not received any fee or payment or prize money for the use of my photo,” he added.

Leach said he would have been okay with the photo appearing on the coin had he been recognized for it and received a fee.

Clearing most doubts about the graphic’s origin was the “smoking gun,” per PetaPixel: screenshots of the artist asking for help to cut out a photo and add lighting effects. The screen captures were shared by local news outlet Index.hr.

Since being called out for misappropriating the photo, Pranjkovic has returned the prize money and withdrawn his submission, attributing his decision to an “unpleasant atmosphere created in media and on social networks.”

Leach is just glad Pranjkovic has pulled the design. “I’m not intending to sue anyone. A right decision was made and, for me, this is the end of the story.”

[via The Guardian and PetaPixel, images via various sources]