Coin full of surprises

First flown in 1968, the Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainer has become the most widely used plane of its type worldwide. The two-seat, single-engine, low-wing aircraft excelled in reliability and versatility. It was designed for basic and advanced training in combat turn maneuvers, ambushes of ground and air targets, firing, bombing, and zero visibility flying. However, it also proved its worth in the heat of battle. Its excellent flight characteristics and easy handling also made it ideal for aerobatics. Hundreds of Albatrosses are still flying today in military and civilian service. Even Agent 007 himself was convinced of their undeniable qualities in the Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.

The coin dedicated to the Albatros, which we produced for the Česká národní banka (Czech National Bank), is full of surprises. The special feature is the optical see-through element, which extends through the entire thickness of the coin and is thus visible from both sides. This segment, created in cooperation with the IQ Structures company, takes the form of a flight instrument known as an artificial horizon. If you shine a laser pointer through it, it will project silhouettes of two Albatroses onto the wall!

Commemorative coin with the motif of the Albatros aircraft was presented at the National Technical Museum: