The Czech Mint pays tribute to the sixth historical couple of Ferdinand I of Habsburg and Anne of Bohemia and Hungary by issuance of the set of two silver thalers from the Royal Couples series.

At the beginning of the 16th century, two important European dynasties - the Habsburgs and the Jagiellonians - concluded an agreement on mutual succession in the event of the extinction of one family. This included marriage contracts. The heir to the Bohemian throne, Louis of Jagiellon, married Maria of Habsburg. Louis' sister Anne of Bohemia and Hungary married Ferdinand I of Habsburg. This marriage was a great disappointment for her - she wanted to be the wife of Ferdinand's brother Charles, who became Emperor. Eventually, however, she realised fortune had smiled on her. Compared to Charles, Ferdinand was kind, witty, handsome and loyal. He fell sincerely in love with the lovely and charming Anne. When Anne's brother Ludwig, who had no children, died in battle with the Turks at Mohács, Ferdinand's inheritance of the lands of the Bohemian Crown fell into his lap. Unlike her husband, who ruled with a firm hand and did not keep his promises, Anne became a popular queen. The people admired her modesty, skill and sense of justice. Ferdinand often entrusted her with political tasks that he could not carry out himself. Because she enjoyed walks in nature, he had a large garden with a summer house built for her at Prague Castle. However, Anne did not see the completion of this romantic gesture - she died shortly after giving birth to her fifteenth child. Ferdinand outlived her by seventeen years and never recovered from her death...

"The Renaissance period favoured portraits, and the faces of both Ferdinand and Anne, which appear on the common obverse side, were therefore well documented. Even verbal descriptions of the couple have survived. Anne of Bohemia and Hungary was short, blue-eyed and red-haired. Ferdinand's distinctive profile which also appeared in some of his descendants and was later considered a Habsburg physiognomic type could not be overlooked,," says academic sculptor Michal Vitanovský. "In the 'marriage market' of European ruling families, the main dowry of Anne of Bohemia and Hungary was the Bohemian royal crown, which is the dominant element of the king's reverse side. The silhouette of the Habsburg double-headed eagle can be seen behind that, and both protagonists of the dynastic marriage are in period dress there. The Queen's reverse side is dedicated to the exquisite Renaissance architecture of the Belvedere in Prague. This summer palace became a monument of love because it was Ferdinand's gift to Anne. The depiction of a solitary pair of figures, again in costumes typical of the highest social level, underlines the intimate, loving relationship between the king and queen," adds the author of the thalers and an expert czech historian.

The thalers are placed in an elegant wooden box with a lid decorated with an engraving of chess pieces symbolising the king and queen. Inside you will also find an illustrated certificate of authenticity with an accompanying text of the author.