We commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Božena Němcová in 2020. The Czech National Bank issued a silver commemorative coin with a nominal value of 200 CZK made in quality proof to this occasion. Every schoolchild knows the turbulent life story of Božena Němcová, but what the story of her coin tells about?

The academic sculptor Jiří Harcuba is no longer among us, but he still surprises us. His work appears on a commemorative coin even seven years after this master of glass and medal craft died. Mr. Harcuba created the relief with the motif of Božena Němcová in 1994. This should have become the main motif of a coin that should have been published in 1995 to the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the birth of the most famous Czech female writer. However, the Czech National Bank decided not to issue the coin in the end. Why? There were two reasons. The first was Harcuba's characteristic artistic style, which is simply not for everyone. Secondly, there were arguments about the real date of birth of Božena Němcová, on which experts could not agree. Therefore, the Czech National Bank decided to properly celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Božena Němcová a quarter of a century later. Although it is an exception in the Czech coinage, it did not launch an art competition and decided to use the design of Jiří Harcuba…

The reverse side of the coin is dominated by the portrait of Božena Němcová in the left profile, supplemented by her name, together with the years 1820–2020. The obverse side was dedicated to the nominal value of 200 CZK, the inscription CZECH REPUBLIC and heraldic animals depicted on the national emblem which is also characterictic of Harcuba's unmistakable manuscript.

All Czech coins are minted by the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou.