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  4. Tradition of superior quality and craftsmanship
  5. Our coin engravers
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Our coin engravers

Our coin engravers answer the following questions:

  1. How long have you worked in CM as an engraver?
  2. How do you assess your contribution to the appearance of a medal?
  3. Which medal was the most challenging for you in terms of the creative process?
  4. What’s your opinion about the uniqueness of hand-crafting?

Franckeová Libuše

  1. Since 1996.
  2. It depends on the complexity of the medal, sometimes the amount of hand-crafted work is smaller and sometimes it’s larger. Lettering is always finished by hand and details in the relief are always highlighted and cut by hand.
  3. Almost all 2500 and 200-crown items – Slavkov and Alfons Mucha.
  4. Hand-crafted commemorative coins acquire uniqueness and artistic value; an individual engraver’s “handwriting” cannot be reproduced by any other engraver or by using a different technique. That significantly contributes to the reduced likelihood of counterfeiting these products.

Hrách Jaroslav

  1. Since 1994.
  2. At the first sight, the coin won’t show the amount of hand-crafting compared to machine processes. Only a detailed (magnified) view reveals the difference between a reduced/machine-made and hand-finished surface of the reduction punch or the die.
  3. Among others, a 2000-crown coin with the motif of the 700th anniversary of the marriage of John of Luxembourg and Elisabeth Premyslid. In terms of labour input, this was one of the most elaborate commemorative coins. This fact was also highlighted by the contractor – the Czech National Bank.
  4. In my opinion, the originality of circulation and commemorative coins is a desirable feature as it adds uniqueness and inimitability.

Farkašová Zdena

  1. Since 2009.
  2. The first sight rarely discloses the amount of hand-crafting. Only the second sight (magnified under the microscope) shows the difference between hand-finished and machine-made parts of the relief.
  3. The second I worked on – Karel Zeman, for the detailed workmanship involved in translating the art design.
  4. Identical with that of my colleagues.

Lietava Luboš

  1. Since 1995.
  2. An engraver must be armed with patience and a sense of detail. You spend a lot of time fine-tuning reduction punches under the microscope. A precise preparation of the reduction punch entails removing marks of the cutting machine, highlighting and perfecting details, such as hair, eyes, trees, foliage, buildings, windows, edges of letters, etc.
  3. It is especially a gold coin featuring the Prague New Town of the Charles IV set. This coin with a face value of CZK 10000 was in 1999 awarded the first prize in the Best Gold Coin category. Of the recent products, I would name one-kilogram gold investment medals measuring 85 mm in diameter, featuring Charles Bridge, Schengen, EU Accession, and the Treaties of Rome.
  4. Each product “deserves” a different level of originality. Making common tokens requires a minimum amount of craftsmanship (also with regard to price). Conversely, commemorative coins issued by CNB require a maximum amount of craftsmanship.