The second silver coin from the Czech Mint’s series titled Greatest Treasures commemorates the wealth plundered by Spanish conquistadors.

The Aztec Empire had a population of 10 million, yet it was conquered in just two years by a Spanish conqueror, who had at his disposal only 600 men, 15 horses, and 15 cannons. How is that possible? It is said that when the infamous conquistador Hernán Cortés began his conquest of Central America, the Aztecs were reluctant to resist him because he bore a striking resemblance to their supreme deity, who was described in ancient prophecies—he had white skin, was bearded, came from the east, and his firearms wielded supernatural power. However, this is likely a fictional legend… What is certain, however, is that the Spaniards were absolutely determined to achieve their goal. Cortés had all his ships sunk so that there would be no way back. To top it all off, he gained unexpected allies among the indigenous people. In the American interior, there were numerous tribes living under Aztec rule who hated them with a passion, as the Aztecs kidnapped their people to sacrifice them in bloody rituals. These ritual murders gave the deeply religious Europeans a sense of moral superiority, but they certainly did not behave like true Christians. They did not hesitate to capture the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II, who had welcomed them with open arms, and when they besieged the capital city of Tenochtitlán, they decided to starve its population. The Aztecs were unfamiliar with this tactic and encountered smallpox for the first time. The European disease, against which the Indians had no antibodies, killed millions of people and brought the American empire to its knees. A cross was erected atop the Aztec pyramids; the golden treasures hidden within them were looted, and the unique culture of pre-Columbian America nearly vanished…

The reverse side of the coin, designed by medalist Mgr. Art. Miroslav Hrice, ArtD., features a conquistador clutching an Aztec idol in his hand. A gilded detail of a Spanish coin illustrates that the looted treasures were melted down, and the scene in the background serves as a reminder that much of the gold ended up at the bottom of the ocean. Overloaded Spanish ships often sank - sometimes due to hurricanes, other times due to pirates. All of this is surrounded by an elaborate design in the Plateresque style and accentuated by an ​antique finish. On the obverse side, you will find an Aztec warrior and another Spanish conqueror. Since the coins from the Czech Mint are issued under license from a foreign issuer, 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.

Don’t miss the first coin in the series, which was dedicated to the Aztecs.