Set of four silver coins Czechoslovak Flying Aces in RAF proof

Set of four silver coins Czechoslovak Flying Aces in RAF proof

Stock state
Sold out
Date of issue
September 2017
Mintage
500 pcs

The product can also be purchased directly in the stores of the Czech Mint

Product description

The Czech Mint pays tribute for the third time to the Czechoslovaks who served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. The symbols and aircrafts of the Czechoslovak RAF wings are continued with our most successful airmen - the so-called air aces in this set of four silver coins.

Who can boast the prestigious title "aero ace"? Each fighter pilot who shot down 5 or more enemy planes. It is no wonder that a great number of Czechoslovaks escaped to the west in order to avenge the Nazis for the occupation of their homeland, including these heavenly riders:

  • Karel Kuttelwascher - with 20 certain victories, 2 probable and 5 damaged machines
  • Josef Frantisek - with 17 certain and 1 probable shot down
  • Alois Vasatko - 15 confident, 4 probable victories and 1 destroyed machine
  • František Peřina - with 12 certain, 2 probable victories and 1 damaged machine

The fates of Czechoslovak aces were different - some fought in France, others were given the opportunity to shine in the sky above Great Britain. Some of them fell in battle, others returned to their homeland. Finally, their leaders turned their backs on them. However, their courage will never be forgotten.

The set of silver coins was made by the expert medal maker and sculptor Zbyněk Fojtů, who also worked on the four-aircraft set for the war cycle. The reverse sides of the four coins belong to four charismatic portraits of fighter pilots in masks. The inscriptions give the names of individual air aces and a mosaic in the form of small squares are in fact an enumeration of their certain victories. The obverse side is common for all four coins, hence it is dominated by a detailed depiction of the cockpit controls from the legendary Hurricane fighter. The rest of the obverse side belongs to the attributes of Niue Island (the issuer that allows the Czech Mint to coin its own coins), i.e the name and portrait of Queen Elizabeth II., the year of issue, 2017, and the nominal value of 1 DOLLAR (NZD).

An attractive wooden etui is decorated with thematic engraving. It depicts a pilot together with a night fighter plane de Havilland Mosquito, which served Karel Kuttelwascher. Each packaging also includes a booklet with essay of PhDr. Lubor Wenceslas, military historian and expert consultant for the project.
 

Specifications

Code
75310-711
Issuer
Niue
Nominal value
1 NZD
Author of the obverse
ak. soch. Zbyněk Fojtů
Author of the reverse
ak. soch. Zbyněk Fojtů
Numbered issue
No
Certificate
Yes
Material
Silver
Fineness
999 / 1000
Weight
64 g
Diameter
34 mm
Packaging
Dřevěná etue
Capsule
Yes
Czech Mint
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