We commemorate the 75th anniversary of the appointment of Josef Karel Matocha as Archbishop of Olomouc in 2023. Therefore, a half-ounce gold medal of the Czech Mint was created, which is part of a free cycle of the most beautiful unrealised designs entered into the Czech National Bank's competitions.

When Josef Matocha was appointed Archbishop of Olomouc in the spring of 1948, he knew that his job would not be easy. It had been only a short time since Czechoslovakia had been taken over by the Communist Party, which sought to destroy the Church and all religion. Although the totalitarian noose was tightening around him, he represented his office conscientiously and zealously. He preached and spoke several times a day, visited schools and races, and he managed to secretly ordain František Tomášek in 1949, later a cardinal, as bishop. However, the state authorities deprived him of his freedom on Easter in 1950. Unlike many Catholic priests, he was not tried, imprisoned or physically tortured - instead he was interned in the archbishop's residence. Although it was a palace, it was no match for a dungeon. The Archbishop was not allowed to leave it and found himself under constant surveillance by State Security officers who did not allow him to make telephone calls, listen to the radio or read newspapers, books or letters. Although he was officially in office, he could enforce almost nothing. He used his rare walks in the garden to bless the people of Olomouc. The barber's visits ended so that he would not bring information from outside, and when the archbishop refused to cooperate, the confessor's visits were cancelled as punishment. He was not even allowed to attend his own sister's funeral. Despite eleven years of psychological terror, Joseph Matocha did not let himself be broken, refused to become a puppet and went down in history as a bloodless martyr. In 1961, he died as a result of lack of medical care, which the StB refused to allow him...

The art design of the medal maker Vojtěch Dostál, DiS, was used as a template for the commemorative medal dedicated to Josef Matocha. The expert committee of the Czech National Bank awarded it third place for the faithful portrait and for the harmony of both sides stylized in the form of a cross.

The mintage is only 99 pieces. Each medal is also hand-numbered on the edge.