Set of four gold quarter ounce coins ŠKODA proof

The Škoda Auto does not need to be introduced. This luxurious set of four quarter-ounce gold coins from the Czech Mint features its most popular cars, which have enjoyed success both at home and abroad.

When bookseller Václav Klement and machine fitter Václav Laurin founded a company in Mladá Boleslav to manufacture bicycles, they certainly had no idea that they were shaping the future of Czech industry. Production began in 1895 with just five people, but the Laurin & Klement factory was opened on an 11-hectare site three years later,. At the end of 1899, the company unveiled its first real motorcycle, and in 1905, its first real car – the Laurin & Klement A. Thanks to its quality and unbeatable prices, there was no shortage of customers, and the company grew steadily. By 1916, the factory had 1,715 employees and covered an area of 310 hectares. It had its own steam and hydroelectric power plants, a brickworks, a sawmill, a farm, a dairy, a soda water factory, a shoe workshop, physical and chemical laboratories, and – as the only one in the entire Habsburg Monarchy – an electric computer. In 1925, the L&K car manufacturer merged with the Pilsen engineering giant Škoda, which had strong financial backing and industrial capacity. The company was then given a new name, which made Mladá Boleslav famous throughout the world. Over the following century, the legendary "Škodovka" has been developed– from the prosperity of the First Republic through a period of war production, nationalization, and central planning to transformation within the globalized market. Throughout this time, it not only managed to survive, but also to flourish. Today, Škoda Auto is a pillar of the Czech automotive industry and the entire Czech economy.

In exactly 100 years, a whole range of beloved machines were created in Mladá Boleslav, some of which are commemorated by four gold coins:

• The Škoda Felicia from 1959 was the counterpart to small British sports cars. Its goal was to succeed primarily in Western markets and bring in much-needed foreign currency. The last open-top car of its brand was a revelation at the time of its launch and was loved by thousands of people around the world.

• The Škoda 110 R from 1970 was not intended for the working masses and therefore did not correspond to the doctrine of the regime at the time, but it still went into series production. The coupe with its sporty curves offered a unique driving experience and became a legend on Czechoslovak roads and an export hit.

• The Škoda Favorit from 1987 represented a fundamental shift in the company's design philosophy. The first car from Mladá Boleslav with a front-mounted engine stood out for its modern and practical design and, laying the foundation for Škoda's current success on global markets.

• The Škoda Octavia I from 1996 was the carmaker's first truly modern car after joining the Volkswagen Group. The first generation of this robust, elegant car quickly gained popularity and spawned a series of successors. Thus began the era of Škoda's best-selling model.

The coins from the studio of medal maker MgA. Martin Dašek feature depictions of individual cars – Felicia, R, Favorit, and Octavia – from a three-quarter view. The reverse sides feature details of the wheels as an additional motif. As the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with the license of a foreign issuer, namely the island of Niue, the obverse sides bear the necessary details – the portrait and name of King Charles III, the nominal value of 10 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2025.

All coins in the set are numbered on the edge and stored in an elegant case together with a numbered certificate of authenticity. The issue limit is only 100 pieces!