From mammoth hunters to numismatic collections – CNB issues a coin featuring the Venus of Dolní Věstonice
The Czech National Bank (CNB) is issuing a CZK 200 commemorative silver coin to mark the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the famous female figurine in Dolní Věstonice – the Venus of Dolní Věstonice. The coin will go on sale on 18 June 2025.
The design of the new coin was chosen in an art competition. At the recommendation of an expert committee, the CNB Bank Board selected the design submitted by Majka Wichnerová. Petr Neruda, head of the Anthropos Institute of the Moravian Museum in Brno, acted as the expert advisor to the committee.
The CZK 200 coin depicts one of the world’s most precious and best-known archaeological discoveries from both sides. The obverse side of the coin features the Venus of Dolní Věstonice from behind and the landscape of the Pavlov Hills. The reverse side depicts a landscape with two mammoths, and the Venus of Dolní Věstonice from the front.
“The Venus of Dolní Věstonice is one of the most important works of art from the Palaeolithic, the oldest ceramic figurine in the world and a symbol of Czech and global cultural heritage. The commemorative coin marks 100 years since its discovery in Dolní Věstonice, which significantly deepened our understanding of the spiritual life and technological development of prehistoric societies,” said CNB Bank Board member Karina Kubelková.
The CNB is issuing a total of 18,300 coins: 6,400 in normal quality and 11,900 in proof quality. The coin is minted from an alloy containing 925 parts silver and 75 parts copper. It weighs 13 grams and has a diameter of 31 mm. It is issued in two versions, normal quality and proof quality. Proof-quality coins have a polished field and a matt relief.
The coin’s denomination of CZK 200 does not equal the sale price, which is higher and reflects, among other things, the current price of silver, production costs and VAT. The coins were minted by Česká mincovna, a. s., in Jablonec nad Nisou and are available for purchase from selected contractual partners. The CNB does not sell numismatic material directly to the public.
The commemorative coin to mark the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Venus of Dolní Věstonice is the second CZK 200 silver coin issued by the CNB this year. A coin marking 200 years since the establishment of Czech savings bank – Böhmische Sparkasse was issued in February. The next CZK 200 coin will be issued in October, marking 900 years since the death of the chronicler Cosmas. Other silver coins to be issued by the CNB this year include a CZK 100 coin from the Institutions of the Czech Republic series featuring the Customs Administration. A few days ago, the CNB issued a CZK 500 coin featuring the Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainer. Two more gold coins will be issued this year: a CZK 5,000 featuring the town of Tábor and an extraordinary CZK 10,000 gold coin weighing one troy ounce and marking 1,100 years since the start of the reign of Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia.
The whole schedule of issuance of coins and banknotes for the period 2021–2025, as well as for the following period 2026–2030 is available on the CNB website.
Venus of Dolní Věstonice
The Venus of Dolní Věstonice is one of the world’s most important works of art from the Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age). It is 27,000 to 29,000 years old and was created during the age of mammoth hunters. A high degree of technological knowledge is attributed to this culture. Besides the production of stone tools made of flint, they also processed bones, antlers and mammoth ivory, which they used not only for tools and weapons, but also for decorative and artistic items.
The ceramic figurine of the Venus fits in one’s palm – its height is 11.5 cm, width 4.4 cm and thickness 2.8 cm. It was discovered by a team of archaeologists led by Professor Karel Absolon at a site in Dolní Věstonice in South Moravia in July 1925. It is currently housed in the collections of the Anthropos Institute of the Moravian Museum in Brno.
Jaroslav Krejčí
CNB Spokesperson
