Commemorative coin to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of director Karel Zeman

On Wednesday 27 October 2010, the Czech National Bank is putting into circulation a CZK 200 commemorative silver coin to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the renowned Czech film director, designer and animator Karel Zeman.

The coin was designed by Lenka Nebeská. The obverse side of the coin depicts a composition of figures from Karel Zeman's films – the sorcerer from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, John and Marie from “The Tale of John and Marie” and Sinbad from “A Thousand and One Nights”. The reverse side bears motifs of the submarine, the octopus and the cave from “A Deadly Invention” and the airship from “The Stolen Airship“.

Karel Zeman (1910–1989), an outstanding Czech film director, employed a unique combination of animations, trick shots and highly specific poetry in his films. He became famous for his film “Journey to the Beginning of Time”, which was followed by other well-known and acclaimed films, such as "A Deadly Invention”, “The Fabulous Baron Munchausen”, “The Stolen Airship” and “On the Comet”. Zeman also made a number of very popular animated films, the most famous of which being the Mr Prokouk series, “The Inspiration” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”.

The coin, made of an alloy of silver and copper, is produced by the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou. It is minted in two versions, normal quality and proof quality, which differ in surface treatment and edge marking.

More information on technical parameters

Tomáš Zimmermann
CNB Communications Department