Issuance of a CZK 2500 commemorative coin - Industrial Heritage Site – Hammer Mill at Dobřív

The Czech National Bank is today putting into circulation a CZK 2,500 gold coin depicting the water-powered hammer mill at Dobřív. This is the ninth and penultimate coin from the CNB’s Industrial Heritage Site cycle, which reminds the public of unique technical heritage sites in the Czech Republic. The Hammer Mill at Dobřív is the largest manufacturing hammer mill in the Czech Republic.

“In selecting the heritage sites, we put great emphasis on their diversity and on representing various regions. Dobřív hammer mill is an exceptional example of an old industrial production facility which is still in working order. We are delighted that on 1 July 2010 it will be listed as a National Heritage Site,” said Bank Board member Pavel Řežábek at today’s official launch of the coin at the mill.

The gold coin has a face value of CZK 2,500 and its mintage is limited to 3,800 normal quality coins and 10,200 proof quality coins. It was designed by the sculptor Jaroslav Veselák. The main motif on the obverse side is a composition of stylised heraldic animals. The reverse side of the coin depicts the drop hammer geared to the mill and the water wheel that drives it.

The cycle comprises ten gold coins gradually issued over 2006–2010. Previously issued coins depicted the Hand-Paper Mill at Velké Losiny, the Observatory at Prague Klementinum, Ševčiny Mine at Příbram-Březové hory, the Water Mill at Slup, the Chain Bridge at Stádlec, the Brewery at Pilsen, the Elbe Sluice under Střekov Castle and the Wind Mill at Ruprechtov. The cycle will be completed in October this year with a gold coin featuring Michal Mine at Ostrava, the first fully electrified mine in the Czech Republic.

The Czech National Bank sells its commemorative coins to private individuals through entities licensed to trade in numismatic material. A list of these entities and further information on the gold coins issued by the CNB are available on the CNB’s website (www.cnb.cz).

More details on technical implementation

Marek Petruš, CNB spokesman