The CNB issues a gold 2,500 Kč coin bearing the motif “National Heritage Site – Ševčiny Mine at Příbram – Březové Hory” from the Industrial Heritage Sites cycle

The CNB issues a gold 2,500 Kč coin bearing the motif “National Heritage Site – Ševčiny Mine at Příbram – Březové Hory” from the Industrial Heritage Sites cycle

On 16 May 2007, the Czech National Bank is issuing into circulation the third gold coin from the Industrial Heritage Sites cycle: “National Heritage Site – Ševčiny Mine at Příbram – Březové Hory”. The coin was designed by Luboš Charvát. The obverse side of the coin depicts stylised heraldic animals from the large national emblem – the Czech lion in the centre, with the Moravian eagle on the right and the Silesian eagle on the left. Written on a ring in the form of a cogwheel is the name of the cycle in Czech: “KULTURNÍ PAMÁTKY TECHNICKÉHO DĚDICTVÍ”. The name of the state “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA” and the denomination and abbreviated monetary unit “2500 Kč” are located in the bottom part of the coin in an oval medallion. The mark of the Czech Mint is positioned near the right bottom edge. The reverse side of the coin features the Ševčiny mine building with a hoist tower and an engine room on the right. The year of mintage “2007” is located in the right bottom part of the engine room and the emblem of Březové Hory is positioned above the engine room. The bottom part of the coin depicts three miners working in the mine within an oval medallion. Written on a ring in the form of a cogwheel is the name of the mine in Czech: “ŠEVČINSKÝ DŮL • PŘÍBRAM • BŘEZOVÉ HORY”. The coin was designed by Luboš Charvát, whose initials – the stylised interlinked letters “LCH” – are located above the right upper edge of the engine room.

The Czech National Bank is issuing a cycle of ten gold coins entitled “Industrial Heritage Sites” over the period 2006–2010. The aim is to remind the public of an important part of the nation’s cultural heritage – industrial heritage sites. In selecting the heritage sites featured in the cycle, emphasis was placed not only the diversity of the heritage sites represented, but also on the representation of various Czech and Moravian regions. The first coin from this cycle, featuring the Hand-Paper Mill at Velké Losiny, was issued in May 2006. The designer of this coin was Luboš Charvát. The second coin, featuring the Observatory at Prague Klementinum and designed by Josef Oploštil, followed in October last year.

All the coins have a face value of CZK 2,500, a diameter of 22 mm and a weight of 7.78 g (1/4 of a troy ounce). The thickness of each coin depends on the height of its relief. The coins are minted from 999.9 purity gold in two quality versions differing in surface treatment and edge marking. The normal-quality coins have fields and reliefs of the same polish and milled edges. The proof-quality coins, intended for the most discerning collectors, have highly polished fields, matt reliefs and plain edges. Each coin comes with a dark red fine-screen postcard-sized catalogue card. The relief of the coin is dry-stamped on the card through gold foil. Basic information about the coin is given in Czech and English. The card is the same for the normal-quality and proof-quality coins.

The fourth coin from this cycle will be issued in October this year and its motif will be the Water Mill at Slup. This coin was designed by the sculptor Zbyněk Fojtů. Another two coins will be issued next year: “National Heritage Site – Suspension Bridge at Stádlec”, designed again (for the third time) by Luboš Charvát, and “Industrial Heritage Site – Brewery at Plzeň”. The coins “Heritage Site – Lock on the Elbe below Střekov Castle” and “Heritage Site – Wind Mill at Ruprechtov” are planned for issuance in 2009. The cycle will be completed in 2010 with the coins “Heritage Site – Hammer Mill at Dobřív” and “National Heritage Site – Michal Mine at Ostrava”.

The Czech National Bank sells its commemorative coins to private individuals through entities licensed to trade in numismatic material.

A more detailed description and picture of the coin

Pavlína Bolfová, CNB spokesperson