Oscar Wilde appears on the gold coin of the Czech Mint from the free cycle commemorating important personalities of world culture.

Oscar Wilde came into the world among the Dublin elite. He grew up in a household that was a renowned intellectual centre, so he met many distinguished personalities. He fitted in perfectly. He dazzled both in Ireland and at Oxford, where he went to study, with his penetrating intellect, his quick tongue and his sense of humour. He also attracted attention for his extravagant manner and dress. He hated mediocrity. He was known as party animal and a sought-after companion, but he also exercised his storytelling talent with pen in hand. He became an acclaimed poet, playwright, novelist and essayist - the author of sensitive verse, brilliant studies and unconventional tales. He began his short story career with The Canterville Fear, made a dent in the novel world with The Picture of Dorian Gray, and shook the theatre boards with his comedy How Important It Is to Have Philip. He rejected the hypocritical morality of the upper classes of Victorian England, spoke out against bad taste and emphasised aesthetic values. He lived modernly and freely - regardless of convention. He succumbed to decadent views and shocked prudish society with gusto. But this proved fatal to him. For a passionate affair with a young nobleman, he was sentenced to two years in prison and labour. His former admirers spat on him, his family disowned him, his works were banned, and he emerged from prison a broken man. His creative vigour waned and the master of words eventually died in exile - alone, in poverty and in failing health…

Medal maker Bc. Zuzana Hubená, DiS., dedicated the reverse side of the coin to a faithful portrait of Oscar Wilde, which she added his name and the years of his life 1854-1900. The obverse side presents Wilde's signature and a swallow, which refers to one of his first works - an unconventional collection of stories called The Happy Prince and Other Fairy Tales. As the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with the foreign licence of the island of Niue, the obverse side also bears its national emblem, the nominal value of 25 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2023.

The coin, which is issued in a limited edition of only 100 pieces, is supplemented with a pictorial certificate of authenticity.