Commemorative silver coin to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bohumil Hrabal

Preparation of designs for the coin – competition conditions (pdf, 531 kB) – in Czech only
Technical preparation of the coin – competition results – in Czech only

On 26 March 2014 the Czech National Bank is putting into circulation a CZK 200 commemorative silver coin to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the writer Bohumil Hrabal. 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 2.35 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 depicts a motif of rails which merge into a female silhouette. The lower part of the coin features two stamps alluding to Hrabal's book “Closely Observed Trains”. The name of the state “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA” is located around the left-hand, upper and right-hand edge of the coin. The denomination and abbreviated monetary unit “200 Kč” are written in the middle of the rails around the upper edge of the coin. The coin was minted by the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou. Its mark is to the left of the left-hand stamp. The reverse side of the coin features a portrait of Bohumil Hrabal. Written around the left-hand, bottom and right-hand edge of the coin is the text “BOHUMIL HRABAL”, which partly extends into the lower part of the portrait. The year “1914” is located above the collar of the portrait and the year “2014” is on the collar of the portrait. The coin was designed by the sculptor Vladimír Oppl. His mark is situated above the years.

Each coin comes with an orange catalogue card containing 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.