Silver 200-crown coin commemorating the 500^th anniversary of birth of Jiří Melantrich of Aventino is the third in a series of four 200-crown coins issued by the Czech National Bank in 2011. The design of the coin was created by Jan Smrž, the winner of a country-wide anonymous competition organized by CNB.

Jiří Melantrich of Aventino, a significant Czech Renaissance printer and publisher of the 16^th century, gradually transformed a small printing workshop in Prague into a large printing and publishing house even by European standards. His most important publishing work was probably the bible – he published it several times, among others also under the name “Melantrich’s Bible”, popularly nicknamed “Melantriška”. In addition to bibles he also printed various religious and morality books.  His Czech and German translations of Mattioli’s Herbarium were masterpieces of European significance.

The coins are struck from 0.925 silver in standard and proof qualities. The diameter of a coin is 31 mm, it weighs 13 g and is 2.35 mm thick.

On the obverse side of the coin the author placed a composition of five books with Jiří Melantrich’s of Aventino signet (i.e. printer’s mark) on the right and two decorative motifs on the left. The name of the country “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA“ and the denomination and currency of the coin “200 Kč“ are featured below, whereas the mintmark of the Czech Mint can be found by the upper rim of the 200-crown coin.

The reverse side of the coin features an excerpt from the title page of the “Melantrich’s Bible” pusblished in 1570 with the publisher’s mark in the middle. The text “JIŘÍ MELANTRICH Z AVENTINA“ and the years “1511?2011“ are placed above the title page of the Bible. Letters “J“ and “S“, i.e. the mark of the author of the design Jan Smrž, are showing at the lower rim of the coin.

A grey-brown colour catalogue car dis supplied with each coin containing description of the coin and its plastic picture.

Limited edition 7900 pcs.