The annual Ducat series, that first appeared already in 1997, is a traditional issues of the Czech Mint. The theme for 2017 is a charming art of the First Republic in all its forms.

"Culture is one of the best things, that was left for us by our first independent state in the 20th century. Besides the great personality of TG Masaryk, which sometimes alone symbolizes the Czechoslovak Republic, we may name many outstanding artists of many disciplines. Some of them have been able to reach a wider audience than just the domestic one. We can say, that the most important personalities of our culture until then, were left-oriented. But this did not apply without exception, as evidenced, for example, we have a group of Catholic-oriented artists. The democratic state allowed the culture of coexistence and natural contest of ideas without political influence,"  says about the topic of Ducat series its author and expert on our history an academic sculptor Michal Vitanovský.

Ducat –  KAREL ČAPEK, WAR WITH THE NEWTS: Dystopian science fiction novel by Karel Čapek War with the Newts from 1935 begins as an adventure story about the discovery of giant newts, but quickly changes into allegory of dealing with unwavering certainty of superiority and a warning against endless inability to realize the emerging danger.

2 Ducat  – MARTIN FRIČ, KRISTIÁN: The comedy film Kristián with Oldřich Nový and Adina Mandlová in the leading roles Martin Frič did not make until 1939, but its style is considered to be typical for the period of the First Republic. A complex personality of acclaimed director in combination with soulful performances have ensured, that the story of a travel agency clerk, who plays the flamboyant man of the world, enrolled in the golden fund of the national cinema.

5 Ducat – JIŘÍ VOSKOVEC and JAN WERICH, THE DONKEY AND THE SHADOW: The theater play of Jiří Voskovec and Jan Werich, two pivotal figures of the Liberated Theatre, from 1933 named Donkey and the Shadow mirrors the biggest problems of the interwar society – fascism, bureaucracy, capitalism and easily influenced masses - and a warning against all-powerful leaders and human stupidity.

10 Ducat – JOSEF GOČÁR, CHURCH OF ST. WENCESLAS IN PRAGUE: This Catholic church of St. Wenceslas was built between 1929 and 1930 on the Svatopluk Czech Square in Prague-Vršovice. Instead of historicist building in Gothic and Baroque the architect Josef Gočár introduced his vision of religious buildings of reinforced concrete framed by unusual constructivist form.

The reverse side of all four medals is communal – it is devoted to the symbolism of films, novels, theaters and architectural designs, complemented by the year 2017 and the inscription CZECH CULTURE OF THE FIRST REPUBLIC. The obverse sides belong to the individual works of art: the intelligent newts, who became masters of the world; the meeting of the irresistible figures of Oldřich Nový and Adina Mandlová on the celluloid strip; the antique crowds manipulated by their leaders, the invocation of a donkey and his shadow; functionalist, yet emotive beads of the interwar sacred architecture.

The luxury set comes in an edition of only 100 pieces and is stored in a wooden etui complemented by an elegant certificate, that tells the stories of four leading representatives of the culture of the First Republic.