Commemorative silver coin to mark the 450th anniversary of the birth of Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice

Preparation of designs for the coin – competition conditions (pdf, 646 kB) – in Czech only
Technical preparation of the coin – competition results – in Czech only

On 11 June 2014 the Czech National Bank is putting into circulation a CZK 200 commemorative silver coin to mark the 450th anniversary of the birth of the Renaissance nobleman Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice. The coin is minted from an alloy containing 925 parts silver and 75 parts copper and is issued in two versions, normal quality and proof quality, which differ in surface treatment and edge marking. Proof-quality coins have a highly polished field, a matt relief and a plain edge with the inscription in Czech “ČESKÁ NÁRODNÍ BANKA * Ag 0.925 * 13 g *”. Normal quality coins have milled edges. The coin is 31 mm in diameter, weighs 13 g and is 2.25 mm thick. As with any other coins, deviations in diameter of 0.1 mm and thickness of 0.15 mm are allowed. Upward deviations in weight of 0.26 g and silver content of 1% are permitted.

The obverse side of the coin contains a section of the title page of the travel book written by Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice “Journey from Bohemia to the Holy Land, by way of Venice and the Sea”, over which Kryštof Harant is pictured sitting on a camel. Below the illustration of Kryštof Harant is his motto “Virtus ut sol micat” depicted as a musical score. To the right of the section of the title page is a mandolin, and to the left is a sailing ship on the sea. Above the section of the title page is a composition of heraldic animals from the large national emblem inside shields – the Czech lion is in the middle, with the Moravian eagle on the left and the Silesian eagle on the right. Written around the outer circle is the name of the state in Czech “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA” and the denomination and abbreviated monetary unit “200 Kč”. The coin was minted by the Czech Mint (Česká mincovna) in Jablonec nad Nisou. Its mark, in the form of the letters “Č” and “M”, is located near the lower edge of the coin. The field of the coin on the obverse side is filled with four-point stars. The reverse side of the coin features a portrait of Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice. Located to the right of the portrait is Kryštof Harant’s coat of arms, which partly extends into the collar. Written around the outer circle is the text “KRYŠTOF HARANT Z POLŽIC A BEZDRUŽIC”. The right-hand and left-hand edges of the coin contain the years “1564” and “2014”. Located below the year “2014” are the initials of the designer of the coin, the painter Vladimír Pavlica, made up of the letters “VP” in a frame. The field of the coin on the reverse side is filled with four-point stars.

Each coin comes with a white catalogue card with a background of four-point stars. The card contains a description and the relief of the coin.

The Czech National Bank sells its commemorative coins through  contractual partners licensed to trade in numismatic material.