Gold coin to mark the 1,150th anniversary of the arrival of the missionaries Constantine and Methodius

Preparation of designs for the coin - competition conditions (pdf, 2,2 MB) - in Czech only
Technical preparation of the coin - competition results - in Czech only

On 3 July 2013. the Czech National Bank is putting into circulation a gold coin to mark the 1,150th anniversary of the arrival of the missionaries Constantine and Methodius in Great Moravia. The coin is minted from 999.9 purity gold 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. A small number of coins, donated by the Czech National Bank to prominent personalities of our churches and distributed only at the presentation of the coin on 4 July 2013 in Velehrad, have a plain edge with the inscription “2013 - ROK ZVOLENÍ PAPEŽE FRANTIŠKA”. Normal quality coins have milled edges. The coin is 34 mm in diameter, weighs 31.107 g and is 2.5 mm thick. Deviations in diameter of 0.1 mm and thickness of 0.15 mm are allowed. Upward deviations in weight of 0.062 g and in gold content of 0.01% are permitted.

The obverse side of the coin features a portrait of Duke Rastislav based on a Byzantine icon located in a frame in which letters of the Glagolitic alphabet are inscribed. A composition of heraldic animals from the large national emblem located in shields – the Czech lion in the middle, the Silesian eagle to the right and the Moravian eagle to the left – are situated above the portrait of the Duke. The name of the state “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA” and the denomination and abbreviated monetary unit “10,000 Kč” are written around the left-hand, lower and right-hand edge of the coin. The mark of Czech Mint, composed of the letters “Č” and “M”, is located above the letter “B” in the word “REPUBLIKA”. The obverse side of the coin features Constantine and Methodius in the style of a Byzantine icon located in a frame in which letters of the Glagolitic alphabet are inscribed. The years “863” and “2013” relating to the anniversary are situated to the right and the left of the missionaries, framed by lines. Written around the outer circle is the text “PŘÍCHOD VĚROZVĚSTŮ KONSTANTINA A METODĚJE”. The coin was designed by the painter Vladimír Pavlica. His initials, in the form of the letters “VP” in a frame, are situated above the second letter “A” in the word “KONSTANTINA”.

Each coin comes with a red 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.