Tomáš Baťa junior lived a long and prolific life – he died shortly before his 94th birthday in 2008. On 17 September 2014 we commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth. The Czech National Bank decided to express its admiration for this remarkable man by dedicating to him a commemorative silver 200-crown coin. The design for the coin in proof quality was created by Vojtěch Dostál. The reverse features a true-to-life portrait of Tomáš Baťa junior, the obverse an ad-like composition symbolising the Baťa firm.

By family tradition, Tomáš Jan Baťa, the only offspring of the founder of the Czech shoemaking factory, famous Tomáš Baťa, also had to complete his apprenticeship as a shoemaker. After his father’s tragic death in 1932, the firm was headed by his uncle, Jan Antonín Baťa. During WW2, Tomáš Baťa junior left the country with 100 families of loyal Baťa‘s employees and emigrated to Canada, where he built a new company headquarters – Batawa. After the war, Bata Shoe Organization became under his leadership the largest world shoe manufacturer and seller. Until his old age he remained an active sportsman and abided by one of his main principles "The customer is always right".