The CNB is issuing a commemorative silver coin to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Alfons Mucha

On 23 June 2010, the Czech National Bank is putting into circulation a CZK 200 commemorative silver coin to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the greatest Czech Art Nouveau painter Alfons Mucha.

The coin was designed by the academic sculptor Ivan Řehák. The coin is made of an alloy of silver and copper and will be minted by the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou. The coin is minted in two versions, normal quality and proof quality, which differ in surface treatment and edge marking.

Alfons Mucha (1860-1939) was born in Ivančice u Brna in a family of a court usher. The Czech Art Nouveau painter and designer became internationally famous for his posters for the Parisian actress Sarah Bernhardt. A cycle of large-format canvases, entitled The Slav Epic, on which he worked for 18 years, is considered his life’s masterpiece.

Mucha also used his universal artistic talent in the design of postage stamps and Czechoslovak banknotes. He started to design the banknotes at the end of 1910s. In 1919, he made a design of the 10 koruna banknote, 20 koruna banknote, 100 koruna banknote and the today very rare 500 koruna banknote. The last banknote by Mucha was the 50 koruna banknote from 1929. Banknote designs by Alfons Mucha can be seen at the CNB Exhibition in Prague.

More information on technical parameters

Marek Petruš, CNB Spokesman