Gold coin John of Luxembourg - King Foreigner proof

A three-part miniseries of gold coins from the Czech Mint pays tribute to John of Luxembourg. The first piece of this historical puzzle commemorates him as the Foreign King.

As John of Luxembourg grew up, he lacked for nothing. He experienced firsthand the highly refined etiquette of the Parisian court, where he was raised with visions of the noble calling of a knight and a ruler. But then he became King of Bohemia and faced a completely different reality. Conditions in Bohemia were harsh—the previous ruler had left behind a troubled land where the rebellious nobility had grown accustomed to exerting a decisive influence on politics. John, however, surrounded himself with his own advisors, who had come with him from abroad. He paid no heed to the Czech aristocracy, and so they rose up against him. Although John of Luxembourg retained the throne, he became completely estranged from the Czech lands. He preferred to focus on politics that began beyond the borders, which is why he became known as the Foreign King. He spent little time in the country, plunged it into significant debt, yet still managed to benefit it. He maintained an unusually long peace there and, through his skillful diplomacy, annexed Cheb and Silesia. Moreover, he gave it an heir to the throne that other nations could only dream of—Charles IV, for whom he personally paved the way to the Roman throne… He accomplished much for future generations, and those who call him the “Foreign King” do him an injustice. After all, he is known throughout the world as John of Bohemia, and ultimately, he is credited with the legendary phrase he uttered as he rode to certain death at the Battle of Crécy: “God forbid that a Bohemian king should flee from battle!”

The reverse side of the coin, designed by medalist Jiří Hanuš, DiS., depicts John of Luxembourg as a fourteen-year-old boy. The young king stands symbolically straddling two worlds—the French capital and the Czech countryside, separated by a Christian cross. On the obverse side, which is common to the entire mini-series, you will find John’s coat of arms and the Luxembourg castle of Vianden, which was both his birthplace and a symbol of power. Since the coins of the Czech Mint are issued under a foreign license from the island of Niue, the obverse side also bears its national emblem, the nominal value of 10 DOLLARS (NZD), and the year of issue 2026—all incorporated into a Gothic design.

On the next two coins, John of Luxembourg is depicted as an arguing husband and a blind knight.