It will be 20 years in 2024 since the Czech Republic and Slovakia joined the European Union. This anniversary is commemorated by an international set of circulation coins which is issued by the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou, the Slovak Mint Mincovňa Kremnica and the central banks of both countries.

The countries of the Eastern bloc saw hope for change after the end of the Cold War. After decades of totalitarianism and central planning, they had fallen far behind the prosperous West and were looking for support to democratise and transition to capitalism. Their application for membership of the European Union did not wait long. This was a huge challenge for both the original members of the European Union and the candidate countries. There were doubts on both sides. EU sceptics pointed to economic divergence - warning of subsidies to developing regions that would overburden the budget and of an influx of cheap labour. Post-communist states, for their part, feared a renewed loss of sovereignty or intelligentsia. But positive prospects prevailed. The prospect of a united continent that would become more politically significant and economically competitive because of its size was appealing. On 1 May 2004, the European Union admitted ten new members - mostly post-communist countries, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The largest extension has fundamentally changed the Union. New lines of conflict emerged, making consensus-building more difficult. At the same time, however, it has become culturally richer and much stronger. Few can match its unified economy. Some of the differences between the original and new members have not disappeared after 20 years, however, the European Union will continue to strive for prosperity and peace in the spirit of the motto "United in diversity"...

The issue, which takes the form of two sets of currency in a common package, contains all valid circulation coins issued by the national banks of the Czech Republic and Slovakia with the embossed year 2024. The nominal values are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 CZK, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 c, 1 and 2 €. They are supplemented with two thematic commemorative tokens.

Similar Czech-Slovak currency sets appeared in 2007 and 2018 - they were quickly sold out and are still a popular collector's item.

Note: The packaging is covered with foil to prevent damage during transport.