Set of two gold coins St. Vitus treasure - Relics of st Wenceslas proof
Set of two gold coins St. Vitus treasure - Relics of st Wenceslas proof
The product can also be purchased directly in the stores of the Czech Mint
Product description
The second set of two gold coins of the Czech Mint from the free cycle, which is dedicated to the St. Wenceslas treasure, commemorates the importance of the relics of St. Wenceslas.
The St. Vitus treasure, built over the centuries by the Přemyslids, Luxemburgs, Jagiellonians and Habsburgs, is one of the largest temple treasures in Europe. It consists of a collection of historical objects whose liturgical, artistic, craft and material value is incalculable. The origins of the treasure date back to the 10th century and are directly linked to the reign of St. Wenceslas, who acquired the relic from the shoulder bone of St. Vitus. The prince deposited it at Prague Castle, where he had built the rotunda of St. Vitus, which was later replaced by the cathedral of the same name... After Wenceslas' death, his own relics became an integral part of the treasure. The saint's skull, on which the crown of St. Wenceslas rested by order of Charles IV, was held in great esteem, but his arms and armour also became the object of pious admiration. The St. Wenceslas sword played an important role in the coronations of Czech kings. The new monarchs used it to knight their knights, but it was definitely not just a ceremonial object - research has proved that it was a fully functional weapon. The wire shirt and helmet are also authentic. As the cult of the saint grew, these precious relics were modified and beautified - the helmet, for example, was given a cross-shaped breastplate.
The two-piece set is the work of medal maker Lenka Nebeská, DiS. While the reverse side of the first coin is dedicated to the skull of St. Wenceslas, the second reverse features Wenceslas' armour and weapon. The additional motif is the symbol of the prince in the form of an eagle. As the licence to issue commemorative coins of the Czech Mint is granted by the Pacific island of Niue, the obverse sides of both coins bear its necessary elements - the national emblem, the nominal value of 10 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2023.
The mintage is only 200 complete sets.