Commemorative silver coin to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Otto Wichterle

Preparation of designs for the coin - competition conditions (pdf, 1,1 MB) - in Czech only
Technical preparation of the coin - competition results - in Czech only

On 23 October 2013 the Czech National Bank is putting into circulation a CZK 200 commemorative silver coin to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the chemist and inventor of contact lenses Otto Wichterle. 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 2.2 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 name of the state in Czech “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA”, the denomination and abbreviated monetary unit “200 Kč” and the text in Czech "MĚKKÁ KONTAKTNÍ ČOČKA" are situated on the obverse side of the coin. The part of the texts overlapped by the contact lens is in focus, and the remainder is out of focus. The coin was minted by the Czech Mint. Its mark, in the form of the letters “Č” and “M”, is located near the lower edge of the coin. The reverse side of the coin features a portrait of Otto Wichterle. The portrait is partly overlapped by the texts "OTTO WICHTERLE" and the years "1913" and "2013". The coin was designed by Josef Oplištil. His initials, in the form of the interlinked letters "OJ", are located above the name "WICHTERLE". The part of the portrait and texts overlapped by the contact lens is in focus, and the remainder is out of focus.

Each coin comes with a blue 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.