Sigismund was the last member of the House of Luxembourg on the Czech throne who closed the grand chapter of the noted family of rulers. This controversial personality of the Czech history has its opponents as well as defendants. For his undisputed historical importance that cannot be denied he was chosen to be portrayed on a special gold coin issued by Czech Mint.

Author of the design for the gold bullion coin with the same weight as 40ducat, with the motif of Sigismund of Luxembourg, is a significant representative of the traditional medallist school Jaroslav Bejvl. On the obverse side he depicted the profile of the sovereign together with his biographical data, sceptre, sword and dragon. The latter symbolizes The Order of the Dragon which was founded by Sigismund of Luxembourg and his wife Barbara of Celje. The reverse side features the denomination of the coin 100 NZD, the effigy and name of the British Queen Elizabeth II and the name of the issuer Niue Island.

Sigismund of Luxembourg, son of Charles IV and Elizabeth of Pomerania, became titular King of Bohemia in 1419, after the death of his brother Wenceslas IV. He inherited diplomatic skills from his father and he applied them especially to tackle the split within Catholic Church. Three men simultaneously claimed to be the true pope and Sigismund succeeded in push through the election of one of them at the Council of Constance in 1414. There he also – more or less – contributed to the condemnation of Jan Hus to death by not providing him with the promised support. During the Hussite wars, the followers of this movement did not recognize Sigismund’s coronation and an agreement was reached no sooner than after many years of exhausting wars. Sigismund of Luxembourg died one year after having been accepted as King of Bohemia. With his death in 1437 the last male descendent of the House of Luxembourg died.

Gold coin 100 NZD 40ducat Sigismund of Luxembourg will be a real gem in your collection both for its high artistic value, but also for its substantial potential of growth.