Silver coin Book Templates - B. Němcová - The devil and Kate proof

The second silver coin from the Czech Mint, inspired by Božena Němcová’s fairy tales, tells the story of the devil and Kate.

Káča was mean, quarrelsome, bossy, ugly, and nobody liked her. But what she wanted most of all was for someone to ask her to dance at a party. Every Sunday she waited in vain for the mysterious huntsman to finally notice her. He treated her to a meal, danced with her, and Káča experienced the most beautiful day of her life. “If only I could dance with you like this until the day I die,” she sighed. The huntsman agreed, but as soon as Káča wrapped her arms around his neck, he turned into a devil and carried her straight to hell. There, however, it became clear what he had gotten himself into—Káča refused to let go of him at any cost! Not even the Antichrist himself could do anything about her, so he banished the devil back to the human world to get rid of the woman. The unfortunate hunter wandered the world, promising Káča the moon and the stars, but it was all to no avail. Fortunately, he met a shepherd, who offered to carry Káča for a while, and she clung to his thick fur coat. When they passed by a pond, the shepherd threw the fur coat - Káča and all - into it. The grateful devil revealed his true form to the shepherd and promised to reward him one day… The shepherd’s region was ruled by a profligate prince, who fleeced his subjects to the bone. Whatever he didn’t squander was taken by his two stewards, who were no better. One day, the three lords were bored and invited an astrologer to predict their future. They were horrified to learn that the devil would come for them. They barricaded themselves in their castles and began to examine their consciences… Just then, the devil returned to the shepherd and revealed his plan. Since the stewards had mended their ways, he would not take them to hell. He would only make a show of threatening them and let the shepherd heroically save them. But the prince, however, is beyond help, and the shepherd must stay far away from him! The shepherd did as the devil said. When the devil was carrying the stewards off to hell, the shepherd appeared, drove him away, and received a fabulous reward. As soon as the prince heard about this, he begged the shepherd to save him as well. “You are a great sinner, but if you were willing to truly reform yourself - to govern your people justly, kindly, and wisely, as befits a prince - I would try to do so, even if I had to go to the fiery depths of hell myself for your sake,” the shepherd promised. When the devil then came for his final victim, the shepherd stood in his way. “How dare you hold me up? Don’t you know what I told you?” the horned one raged. “Fool, I’m not here for the prince - I’m here for you. Káča is alive and asking for you!” cried the shepherd. As soon as the devil heard this, he took to his heels and left the prince alone. The prince truly reformed and made the shepherd his advisor - a sincere and caring one who gave away all the gold he received to the needy…

On the colored reverse side of the coin, designed by medalist MgA. Petra Čánská, you’ll find Káča, who is clinging with all her might to the devil, and the shepherd, who is trying to figure out how to get rid of her. The obverse side of the coin is a showcase of Božena Němcová’s most famous fairy tales - small scenes depict Thumbelina, The Devil and Káča, The Rooster and the Hen, Cinderella, The Gingerbread House, and The Seven Ravens. Since coins from the Czech Mint are issued with a foreign license from the island of Niue, the obverse side also features its national coat of arms, the nominal value of 1 DOLLAR (NZD), and the year of issue 2026.

The previous commemorative coin featured Princess Goldilocks.