Heritage Site – Elbe Sluice under Střekov Castle

Preparation of designs for the coin – competition conditions (pdf, 2,6 MB, only Czech version)
Technical preparation of the coin – competition results (only Czech version)

On 20 May 2009, the Czech National Bank is putting into circulation the seventh gold coin from its Industrial Heritage Sites cycle: “National Heritage Site – Elbe Sluice under Střekov Castle”. The coin is minted in two quality versions differing in surface treatment and edge marking. The normal-quality coins have fields and reliefs of the same polish and milled edges. The proof-quality coins, intended for the most discerning collectors, have highly polished fields, matt reliefs and plain edges. The edge of the normal-quality coin is plain. The normal–quality coins and proof-quality coins are minted from 999.9 purity gold. The coin has a weight of 7.78 g, a diameter of 22 mm and a thickness of 1.6 mm. 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 0.062 g and the gold content of 0.01% are allowed.

The obverse side of the coin depicts a Kaplan turbine, which is a part of the hydroelectric power station of the sluice, with a composition of stylised heraldic animals from the large national emblem of the Czech Republic located above it. The Czech lion is in the middle, with the Moravian eagle on the right and the Silesian eagle on the left. The denomination and abbreviated monetary unit “ 2500 Kč” is below the composition. The name of the cycle in Czech “KULTURNÍ PAMÁTKY TECHNICKÉHO DĚDICTVÍ” and the name of the state “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA” are written around the outer circle. The mark of the Czech Mint is positioned on the right-hand side of the coin next to the Moravian eagle. The reverse side of the coin depicts an overall view of the Elbe sluice under Střekov Castle. The year of the mintage “2009” and the inscription “ZDYMADLO NA LABI” are located below it around the outer circle. The inscription “POD STŘEKOVEM” is located above the sluice depiction around the outer circle. The initials of the designer of the coin, Josef Oplištil – made up of interlinked letters “OJ” – are situated at the left-hand edge of the coin before the words “POD STŘEKOVEM”. Each coin comes with a red postcard-sized catalogue card. The relief of the coin is dry-stamped through gold foil. The text is given in Czech and English. The card is the same for the normal-quality and proof-quality coins.

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

Prepared by: Cash and Payment Systems Department, 13 May 2009