Silver coin The Greatest Treasures – Aztecs with gold inlay stand

The first silver coin from the Czech Mint’s series titled Greatest Treasures commemorates the wealth amassed by the Aztec empire.

The Spaniards, who followed in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus and set sail westward into uncharted waters, longed for wealth, land, and a new life. On the Caribbean islands, they encountered indigenous peoples who were far less advanced, and so they easily subjugated them. They were convinced of their absolute superiority, but then they landed on the American mainland and were speechless with amazement. They had heard tales from the islanders about warlike Indians living in stone cities, but the reality was even more incredible. The Aztec Empire numbered 10 million people. In the capital city alone, Tenochtitlán, 300,000 people lived—ten times more than in the largest city of Spain at the time, Seville. The Aztec metropolis was built on islands in the middle of a lake and connected to the outside world by causeways. Its layout was perfectly thought out. Cocoa beans, cotton fabrics, and precious obsidian were traded in the markets. Goods were transported on canoes that sailed along the canals. The city was sustained by artificial fields built directly on the water’s surface. Cleanliness and hygiene were a given. Towering above it all were magnificent temples resembling pyramids. Aztec society was, in fact, steeped in faith and mysterious rituals. The Spaniards, however, did not perceive the wealth in the form of an organized society with an advanced culture. They saw only the omnipresent gold. For the Aztecs, the yellow metal had deep spiritual significance—it served to express social status or as an offering to the gods—but for the Europeans, it was primarily a medium of exchange, and so they decided to seize it by force…

Medalist Mgr. Art.Miroslav Hric, ArtD., dedicated the reverse side of the coin to a rich Mesoamerican collage. While the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II stands in the foreground, in the background you can see a group of Spanish conquistadors looting an Aztec temple. Among them shines a gilded detail of a mask from the Aztec gold treasure. On the obverse side, you will find an Aztec warrior and another Spanish conqueror. Since the coins of the Czech Mint are issued under license from a foreign issuer, namely the island of Niue, the obverse side also bears its insignia - the national coat of arms, the nominal value of 5 DOLLARS (NZD), and the year of issue 2026. All of this is surrounded by an elaborate Aztec design.

The second coin in the series will be dedicated to the Spanish conquistadors.