Commemorative silver coin celebrating the 700th anniversary of John of Luxembourg’s marriage to Elisabeth of Premyslides

On Wednesday, 1 September 2010, the Czech National Bank and Banque centrale du Luxembourg are putting into circulation a commemorative silver coin to mark the 700th anniversary of John of Luxembourg’s marriage to Elisabeth of Premyslides. The formal presentation of the coin in the Czech Republic will take place on the issue day at Křivoklát Castle.

The commemorative coin will be formally presented in the Royal Hall of Křivoklát Castle by Miroslav Singer, Governor of the Czech National Bank. The event will be attended by Jean Faltz, Ambassador of Luxembourg, Yves Mersch, Governor of Banque centrale du Luxembourg, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk and other public figures.

“This is the first time the Czech National Bank has ever issued a commemorative coin marking a major historic event simultaneously with another central bank,” said Bank Board member Pavel Řežábek, who oversees the central bank’s money circulation activities. “We are proud to have the opportunity to cooperate on the issuance of this beautiful coin with our Luxembourg partners,” he added.

The commemorative silver coin was designed by Jakub Vlček, who also designed the 700 euro-cent commemorative coin being issued in Luxembourg. The coins have the same reverse side, but different obverse sides and descriptive texts. The Luxembourg coin is 3 mm larger in diameter (34 mm) than the Czech coin (31 mm).

The reverse side features the stylised figures of John of Luxembourg and Elisabeth of Premyslides at their wedding on a background of a Gothic decoration consisting of stars and dots. The inscription in Czech “SŇATEK JANA LUCEMBURSKÉHO S ELIŠKOU PŘEMYSLOVNOU” (THE MARRIAGE OF JOHN OF LUXEMBOURG TO ELISABETH OF PREMYSLIDES) and the years “1310–2010” are located all around the outer circle.

The obverse side of the Czech coin depicts the Czech lion in stylised medieval form on a background of a Gothic decoration consisting of stars and dots. The obverse side of the Luxembourg coin depicts the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Both silver coins are minted by the Czech Mint (Česká mincovna) in Jablonec nad Nisou.

The Czech coin is minted in two quality versions, normal and proof, differing in surface treatment and edge marking. The CNB is issuing 9,600 normal quality coins and 13,900 proof quality coins. The 3,000 Luxembourg commemorative coins will be minted in proof quality only.

Detailed description of the coin

Marek Petruš
CNB spokesman