Josef Kainar, one of the most versatile representatives of Czechoslovak culture, was born 100 years ago in 1917. The silver coin of the Czech National Bank with a nominal value of 200 CZK in standard quality is dedicated to him.

Josef Kainar was a real artist-chameleon. He was famous above all as a poet, whose span included ironic existential verses, merry children's rhymes and exalting constructive epics. He was also a playwright who created, among other things, one of our first absurd plays. Moreover, he was a lyricist specializing in jazz, swing and blues. He was also a professional piano, violin and guitar player, acclaimed journalist, translator, artist, illustrator and photographer. He also worked for a time at a broadcasting company. Who knows what arts would Josef Kainar have enriched if he had not suffered a heart attack at the age of 54.

The medal maker and teacher Vojtěch Dostál, DiS. won the Czech National Bank's art contest. The reverse side of the coin was dedicated to the charismatic portrait of Josef Kainar in his glasses. The obverse side belongs to the open book and the extract from the legendary poem "Cut A Little Boy´s Hair". Other inscriptions mention 200 CZK, CZECH REPUBLIC, JOSEF KAINAR, 1917-2017. The expert committee of the CNB competition appreciated, among other things, the use of an untraditional type of script that perfectly connects both sides.