Coins of Three emperors - that is the title of a remarkable collectible series of a silver Smart coins, which was prepared for the numismatic enthusiasts by the Czech Mint. To the two already issued mintages, dedicated to Karel IV. and Charlemagne, now adds another famed namesake, and the last Habsburg ruling our countries - Karel I, whose portrait adorns the latest Smart coin 1 NZD of a pure silver in a top quality proof.

The last Austrian emperor and also the Czech and Hungarian King Karel I was born to the Archduke Otto von Habsburg and Maria Josepha on August 17, 1887. In his youth he studied a natural sciences and as an eighteen year old joined the army. Although he did not actively intervene in politics, he inspired from a reform considerations of his uncle Franz Ferdinand d'Este. Towards the end of 1916, precisely one hundred years ago, by a tragic coincidences, he ascended the throne and took over after his great-uncle Franz Joseph I.

He was named the Hungarian king that same year in Budapest, however, there was no coronation as the King of Bohemia. During his reign, he intensively attempted to stop the first world war, but his peace negotiations were unsuccessful. Also, his attempt to establish a national reconciliation in his own countries, failed. In 1917 he managed to recover the cisleithan parliament, again raised the democratic life in the Austrian part of the monarchy, which was affected by the First World War.  But he failed to avert the disintegration of Austria-Hungary and was forced into exile. He died in 1922 on the island of Madeira, where he is also buried.

An exquisite academic sculptor Vladimír Oppl is the author of the obverse and reverse sides of a silver Smart coin, which is devoted to Karel I. The reverse belongs to a plastic portrait of the pious Archduke, protruding from a pattern consisting of the imperial monogram and the Czech lion. Along the perimeter then have a place a Latin inscription proclaiming BEATUS CAROLUS I. IMPERATOR BOEMIAE REX MXMXVI MMXVI, or the BLESSED KAREL I. CZECH EMPEROR AND KING, and the years 1916 and 2016 marking an era, which has passed from the time he took the throne. The obverse states the year of issue 2016, attributes of the issuer and nominal 1 DOLLAR. Treat yourself and add this beautiful coin into your precious collection!