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Croat Plan to Put Tesla on Euro Coins Reignites Balkan Feud

  • Choice of ethnic Serb inventor angers officials in Belgrade
  • Tesla was born in Austrian Empire town now part of Croatia
Tesla's Blue Portrait

Source: FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images

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Serbia’s central bank said it would take action if Croatia is allowed to put an image of scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla, an ethnic Serb born in present-day Croatia, on euro coins when it joins the currency union.

While Croatia won’t join the euro zone before 2023, passions over claiming Tesla -- one of many disputes between the Balkan neighbors and wartime foes -- is setting their respective central banks on a collision course.