Gold half-ounce medal Jan Blahoslav proof
Gold half-ounce medal Jan Blahoslav proof
The product can also be purchased directly in the stores of the Czech Mint
Product description
The year 2023 marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of Jan Blahoslav - Bishop of the Unity of the Brethren. On this occasion, the Czech Mint created a half-ounce gold medal which is part of a free cycle of the most beautiful unrealised designs entered into the Czech National Bank's competitions.
The Unity of Brethren was founded at the time of the Czech Reformation as a Protestant church. Because it did not join the Catholics or the Caliphs, it faced constant persecution. Nevertheless, it managed to become an important part of Czech and Moravian society due to its bishop, Jan Blahoslav. This priest, writer, pedagogue and scholar espoused the ideas of humanism and resembled his successor, J. A. Comenius. He applied humanistic methods, which include the search for truth, a return to sources, systematic classification of material and clear and comprehensible interpretation, in a wide range of activities. He defended his church with defensive writings and acted as its historian. He used manuals of a moral, theological or musical nature in his teaching. He helped preachers and translators by working on Czech grammar. He applied his linguistic interests to the translation of the New Testament from Hebrew and Greek into Czech. His work then became the basis for a comprehensive translation of the Scriptures, which went down in history as The Bible of Kralice. The literary, scientific and artistic value of Jan Blahoslav's work ranks it among the masterpieces of national culture.
The design of the medal maker Asamat Baltaev, DiS, was used as a template for the commemorative medal. The expert committee of the Czech National Bank awarded it second place in the art competition. The obverse side presents a portrait of Jan Blahoslav, supplemented with his name and annual years. The reverse side is dedicated to the Šamotulský kancionál - a collection of spiritual songs, the editing of which was entrusted to Jan Blahoslav. The composition of the reverse side is completed by the titles of Blahoslav's other works and a lamb with a weathervane, which is the symbol of the Unity of Brothers.
The edition has only 99 pieces. In addition, each medal is hand-numbered on the edge.