Set of circulation coins 2026 Šumava National Park stand

This series, produced by the Czech Mint in cooperation with the Czech National Bank, showcases the protected natural areas of the Czech Republic. The fourth circulating coin set is dedicated to the Šumava National Park.

Šumava is one of the oldest mountain ranges in Europe. The landscape’s relief was shaped by glaciers, which created glacial lakes and peat bogs, as well as Mount Plechý, the highest peak on the Czech side of Šumava. The landscape, shrouded in mist, has captivated people since time immemorial, and it is no wonder that the exceptional beauty and value of its nature were also emphasized by the national revivalists of the 19th century. After all, the mother of Czech rivers, the Vltava…, springs from the depths of this mythical Czech mountain range. The decision to protect the wilderness of Povydří and the Boubín Primeval Forest was made as early as the Austro-Hungarian era. In 1933, the first state nature reserves were established in the Šumava Mountains, and in 1963, a protected landscape area was designated here. Its most valuable part was then designated a national park in 1991, representing a unique natural, ecological, and cultural-historical territory. With an area of 680 km², the Šumava is the largest Czech national park, with 80% of its territory consisting of forested areas. Thanks to one of the largest contiguous forest complexes in Central Europe, the Šumava massif is called the Green Heart or the Green Roof of Europe. Furthermore, the national park is home to a wide variety of rare plants and animals. This species diversity is influenced by a wide range of habitats - from valley floodplains to mountain spruce forests. Among the rarest animals of the Šumava are large mammals - the Eurasian lynx, European elk, wildcat, and gray wolf which are gradually being moved back into the wild.

The reverse side of the commemorative token, designed by medalist Eva Macíčková and an integral part of the set, is dominated by the Šumava’s predators, which means the lynx, fox, and wolf. On the obverse side, you will find characteristic Šumava spruce trees, whose composition evokes the logo of the Šumava National Park. Naturally, the set of circulation coins would not be complete without actual currency - six metal coins with nominal values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 CZK. Each coin bears the year 2026 and has never been in circulation.

All of this is presented in a thematic package in the form of a booklet, which presents the national park through words and images.