Czech Lion 2021 made of ten kilograms of pure gold

The Czech Lion has always been a symbol of strength and courage. Thanks to the Czech Mint, it has also become a bearer of wealth and prosperity.

A TREASURE FOR A KING

The world's bullion coins tend to be dedicated to strong national symbols, and the Czech Lion, the first coin of its kind to be minted in the Czech Republic, is no exception. The weight of the unique gold coin of the Czech Mint, which bears a unique security hologram, is ten kilograms. The schedule of issuance has only five pieces.

SAFE INVESTMENT

In the Middle Ages, when all coins were made of precious metals, mintmasters feared counterfeiters who imitated their work to enrich themselves. Indeed, the penalties for coinage were severe and most of the criminals caught lost their lives. Although it is highly unlikely that anyone would attempt to counterfeit contemporary coins, there is never enough caution, which is why we at the Czech Mint have come up with innovative solutions.

The Czech Mint's latest security solution is a security feature named CZECH SECURITY CHECK. It is an embossed hologram in the shape of a shield located at the bottom of the reverse side of the coin. This hologram is not only a protective but also an ornamental element. Like the coin itself, it is dedicated to the depiction of the Czech lion. You do not need any specialised equipment to see the CZECH SECURITY CHECK - it is visible to the naked eye. You can then examine it with simple, commonly available tools - a magnifying glass and a sharp spot light, provided by, for example, a lit mobile phone flash. When illuminated from a certain angle, a hidden "moving" pattern will appear in the shield.

While it is very easy to observe a holographic shield, it is extremely difficult to produce and cannot be reliably replicated. The hologram itself is the work of the highly specialised Czech company IQ Structures, which is one of the world leaders in holographic technology. It is also extremely technologically demanding to emboss the hologram in precious metal so that all its special effects - kinetic or colour - are preserved. This is the task of the Czech Mint.

TECHNICAL UNIQUE SPECIMEN

High-mass coins with holograms are minted using a special hydraulic press that was designed specifically for this purpose. This is the only machine of its kind in the world - no other press has such a configuration and technical parameters. Due to its size and considerable weight, we had to build a special workplace for it at the Czech Mint.

The principle of production of high-mass coins does not differ in principle from the procedure used in the minting of their smaller siblings. But everything is of course bigger, heavier and more demanding. While a normal punch weighs around one-half kilogram, the weight of punches intended for the production of record coins is calculated in the tens of kilograms. These tools take days to machine. The forces involved in minting giant coins are astronomical - we can reveal that the press exerts the same pressure as if you stacked a couple of thousand cars on top of each other.

ARTISTIC GEM

Although the Czech Lions are primarily investment coins, their artistic qualities are unquestionable. The author is the artist Asamat Baltaev, DiS., who is one of the brightest stars of the Czech medal scene. His work stands out for its extraordinary detail and height of relief.

The reverse side of the coin is dominated by a majestic heraldic beast in an unusually realistic rendering. On its head is the St. Wenceslas Crown, which was made by Charles IV himself and is the most valuable of the Czech crown jewels. A lime branch completes the composition. An integral part of the reverse side is also an embossed hologram, which is also the work of Asamat Baltaev.

The obverse side presents an eagle on the shield, which is a synthesis of the St. Wenceslas, Moravian and Silesian bird of prey. As the Czech Mint's coins are issued under the license of a foreign issuer, which is the island of Niue, their obverse side still bears its necessary attributes - the name and portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the face value of 80,000 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2021. By being classified as coins, the Czech Lions can offer the benefits of investment gold in accordance with the law. The biggest advantage is undoubtedly the VAT exemption.

The ten-kilogram coin, which includes gloves for safe handling and a numbered certificate of authenticity produced by the State Printing House of Valuables, is placed in a special protective box.

The luxury gift, which is an integral part of the issue, takes the form of a unique glass sculpture of a Czech lion. Its author is Achilleas Sdoukos. "Where the lion is praised as an example of noble courage, it can be disparaged for its ferocity. But fierceness is what makes a lion a lion, keeps it combative even in retreat, and symbolizes invincibility and respect," says the glass expert.

RICH EXPERIENCE

At the Czech Mint, we have extensive experience in the production of bullion coins. We have been minting gold and silver Czech Lion coins in various weights since 2017 and they are popular with investors not only in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but also in Hungary, Germany, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Canada and the United States. The world's largest online precious metals distributor has also requested them for its offer. One of the reasons why the Czech Mint's investment coins have so quickly taken their place alongside their famous global counterparts (such as the Austrian Wiener Philharmoniker, Canadian Maple Leaf, South African Krugerrand, American Eagle, Chinese Panda or Australian Kangaroo) is their low mintage. While investment coins of foreign mints are minted in the millions, the issue limit of coins minted in the Czech Republic is calculated in thousands, hundreds or even units. This fact increases the appreciation potential of the investment and adds a collector's dimension to it.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Every Czech knows that the dominant heraldic animal of the Czech Republic is the two-tailed lion. But how did this exotic beast come to be the emblem of a country in the heart of Europe? A clue is offered by the tale of Bruncvík, the mythical prince who left his beloved and went out into the world in search of honour and glory. When his ship was shipwrecked off the coast of faraway Africa, he helped the king of the beasts in his battle with a flying sledge. The grateful lion has followed him ever since, and together they have had many adventures and acquired a miraculous sword. Bruncvík returned to the Czech lands after seven long years and fought one more battle - for the heart of his chosen one. They lived happily ever after and immortalized the faithful lion on the earth's weathervane.

A more plausible explanation is offered by the old chroniclers. According to them, the lion was to become the symbol of the Bohemians in 1158. At that time, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa rewarded Prince Vladislav II with a royal crown and a new coat of arms, which replaced the existing eagle - a silver lion on a red field. The beast represented the virtues of a knight, the strength and courage Vladislaus had shown in his conquest of the city of Milan in the Emperor's service. And how did the heraldic figure come to have its second tail? Again, heroism played a role. In 1204, King Ottokar I of Bohemia helped Emperor Otto IV in his fight against the Saxons, and in return the Bohemian lion was given a second tail, which distinguished it from the beasts of other nations and gave it a unique prestige.

Medieval writers, however, liked to colour their narratives and are not a reliable source of information. Therefore, one thing is certain - the first truly documented Czech lion was a symbol of the Přemyslid dynasty and appears on the equestrian seal of Vladislaus Henry from 1203. The lion was elevated to the emblem of the whole country by Ottokar II of Bohemia, the Iron and Gold King.