The Czech National Bank issued silver commemorative coin made in the standard version with a nominal value of 200 CZK to the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Božena Němcová. Or is it different?

The Czech commemorative coin that would commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Božena Němcová had been prepared to be issued since 1995. It was supposed to be the 175th anniversary, but the coin was not minted in the end. One of the reasons was the argument about the controversial date of birth of the most famous Czech female writer… The register office in Vienna states that Božena Němcová was born on 4 February 1820 as an illegitimate child of Terezie Novotná and was named Barbora. Terezie married Johann Pankl, who accepted Barunka as his own and they moved to Ratibořice. Barunka's grandmother Marie Magdaléna Novotná, who became the inspiration for the artist's greatest work, moved with them. The writer's birth date, however, is questioned by the school registres according to which she was born in 1817 or 1818, and some researchers even claim that she may have been from noble family of the Princess Wilhelmine, Duchess of Sagan. However, the Czech National Bank decided to respect the Viennese register and dusted off a quarter-century-old proposal of a coin and issued it on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Božena Němcová.

The relief was made by the academic sculptor Jiří Harcuba, who is one of the most famous Czech medal makers. It is interesting that the coin comes out seven years after his death. The reverse side is dominated by the portrait of Božena Němcová in the left profile, supplemented by her name and the years 1820–2020. The obverse side was dedicated to the nominal value of 200 CZK, the inscription CZECH REPUBLIC and heraldic animals that are depicted on the large national emblem. All this bears Harcuba's unmistakable handwriting.

The Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou is the exclusive manufacturer of czech coins.