Engravers

JAROSLAV HRÁCH

How long have you been working as an engraver at the Czech Mint?

Since 1994.

How do you evaluate the share of your work in the final form of the coin or medal?

The first look at the coin is far from showing the proportion of manual labor compared to a machine. Only a detailed (enlarged) view reveals the differences between the reduced / machine and the manually cleaned surface of the reducer or die.

Which mintage preparation was the most interesting for you?

Among others - 200 CZK with a motif, the 700th anniversary of the marriage of John the Blind (John of Bohemia) to Elizabeth of Bohemia. It was one of the most demanding commemorative coins from the point of view of laboriousness. This fact was also highlighted by the client of this work - the Czech National Bank.

What is your view on the originality of manual processing?

In the case of circulation and commemorative coins, this originality is, in my opinion, necessary and provides the coin with a hallmark of its unmistakability and uniqueness.

LUBOMÍR LIETAVA

How long have you been working as an engraver at the Czech Mint?

Since 1995.

How do you evaluate the share of your work in the final form of the coin or medal?

The engraver must be endowed with patience and attention to detail. You spend a lot of time finishing the reductions under a microscope. Precise adjustment of the reduction means the removal of traces of the cutter by pinching details: for example, hair, eyes, trees, leaves, buildings, windows, corners of letters and others.

Which mintage preparation was the most interesting for you?

It is primarily a gold coin New Town of Prague from the set of Charles IV. This coin with a nominal value of 10,000 CZK won the first prize in the Best Gold Coin category in 1999. Recently, these are kilogram gold medals with a diameter of 85 mm as e.g. Charles Bridge, Schengen, Accession to the EU and the Rome Agreement.

What is your view on the originality of manual processing?

Each product "deserves" a different degree of originality. Regarding common counters, this requirement is minimal (also due to the price). On the other hand, for example, regarding commemorative coins issued by the CNB, the share of manual labor is maximum.

OTTO TOMSA

How long have you been working as an engraver at the Czech Mint?

I joined the Czech Mint after four years of engraving experience in 2015.

How do you evaluate the share of your work in the final form of the coin or medal?

I don't think a layman knows much. However, engraving is necessary for other production processes and especially for minting. Then, when some medal makers do not fully respect the technical specifications (for example, the height of the relief), it is up to the engravers to make corrections (and reduce or increase the relief).

Which mintage preparation was the most interesting for you?

Each mintage is interesting for its unique charm, but I would highlight two specific ones: silver 200 CZK coin "Operation Anthropoid", which in my opinion was a well-crafted theme processed by Irena Hradecká and Asamata Baltaev's 500 CZK coin "Battle of Zborov", which was a kind of tough proposition due to the complexity of the design.

What is your view on the originality of manual processing?

Each medal or coin is unique regardless it is a currency or a commemorative coin of the Czech National Bank. The engraver processing tools for minting always leaves his characteristic, unrepeatable handwriting which can not be imitated.

MÁRIA FILOVÁ

Mária Filová has been working as an engraver of the Czech Mint since 2018. She is also an expert medal maker. You can find the interview with her in here.