The history of the JAWA brand has been associated with the 500cc class from the very beginning. The successful line of motorcycles began with the licensed German Wanderer 500 and continued with Czechoslovak models of its own original design. The highlight of the series was the JAWA 500 OHC motorcycle, whose series production began in 1952. The nineteenth silver coin of the Czech Mint from the On Wheels series recalls its story.

Unlike the two-stroke Perak, on whose concept the four-stroke JAWA 500 OHC was based, it was a more luxurious machine aimed at motorcyclists who were sporty and also more affluent. Before the currency reform in 1953, the OHC was sold for 150,000 CZK after it for 22,000 CZK and soon the price was reduced to 15,000 czech crowns. A JAWA 250 could be bought for 8,500 CZK and the cheapest ČZ 125 cost only 5,000 crowns. The 488 cc engine used OHC valve timing, with not only valves but also camshafts in the cylinder heads. With gradual modernisation, three types of JAWA 500 OHC motorcycle were created. The culmination of the design series was the Type 15/02, which differed from the original version by its camshaft drive, large central brake drums and comfortable double seat. The 20.6 kW - 28 hp - engine could reach a top speed of 147 km/h at 5,500 rpm. When properly tuned, the five hundred was quiet and refined. Its speed and power were popular with Public Safety officers and professional racers alike. Although the magnificent touring machine became the company's flagship, the JAWA 500 OHC was the last mass-produced motorcycle of its brand with a four-stroke engine of its own design. Its production was discontinued due to its lower economic benefit compared to mass-produced two-strokes. Approximately 7,000 pieces of the little OHC were built over a seven-year period. Compared to the hundreds of thousands of production runs of the more affordable Spring 250, also called as “Kývačka 250“. Therefore, the JAWA 500 OHC is one of our most popular and prized motorcycles. It is often considered the best…

The reverse side of the coin, which is the work of the medal maker MgA. Martin Dašek, is dominated by the image of a motorcycle surrounded by an inscription JAWA 500 OHC. The additional motif of the relief is a cut of the engine with an unusual worm gear, which was characteristic for the type 15/00. As the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with the license of a foreign issuer, which is the island of Niue, the obverse side bears its necessary elements - the national emblem, the nominal value of 1 DOLLAR (NZD) and the year of issue 2023. Following the name of the collector's cycle, the perimeter of the obverse side is formed by sections of the wheels of various means of transport.

An integral part of the coin is a narrative packaging in the form of a cardboard book which contains accompanying text and period photographs.