A special edition of a silver commemorative medal plated with pure gold is dedicated to one of the most prominent Czech musicians. The late Karel Kryl would have celebrated his seventieth birthday on 12 April. On this occasion, Czech Mint issues an extraordinary item in memory of this truly Renaissance figure.

The medal honours a unique Czech singer and songwriter, poet, journalist and graphic artist. For many years, his name has been spelled out in connection with the fight for democracy and human rights up to this date.

Gold-plated silver combines affordability of silver with all the charms of gold. It needs to be noted the prices of silver have been very attractive in the long run and show significant growth potential. The silver gold-plated medal Karel Kryl reflects not only the artist's illustrious personality, but also recalls an important chapter of our history.

Karel Kryl was born on 12 April 1944 in Kroměříž. He was one of the prominent leaders of the so-called Czech political protest song. This “poet with a guitar” wrote all lyrics of his famous pamphlet-like songs and longer poetic compositions.

His grandparents ran a printing business, but the family printing shop was closed by the communist regime in the 1950s. Karel first wanted to become a potter, but poetry and music began to fully occupy him. His first song, A Blind Girl, came out in 1968. His first album with the title song Close the Gate, Little Brother, which he wrote as an immediate response to the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact troops, was released in the same year. In 1969 he emigrated to Germany and settled in Munich. He worked in Radio Free Europe, first as a freelancer and later as an employee. His following albums (except for Monologues) were released in exile.

Karel Kryl returned briefly to his homeland in 1989 to attend his mother’s funeral. The initial euphoria sparked by the Velvet Revolution soon faded and in 1990 his first post-revolution critical song was released, titled The Velvet Spring, to be followed by the album Monologues and poems titled Democracy, Timur and His Gang and others.

Karel Kryl died on 3 March 1994 in Munich, following a massive heart attack. His legacy is enormous, both quantitatively and, notably, spiritually. He received a number of awards and honours posthumously, such as a Charles University silver commemorative medal for his contribution to the nation’s spiritual development and moral support (1994), the František Kriegl award (1995), a Czech GRAMMY (Hall of Fame - 1995). On 28 October 1995 President Václav Havel awarded him posthumously the Medal of Merit II. class.

We are pleased that Czech Mint was given an opportunity to honour Karel Kryl. The coinage and design of the commemorative medal were personally approved by Maria Magdalena Kryl, the artist’s widow. The author of the design is the renowned academic sculptor Zbyněk Fojtů. On the obverse side he portrayed the songwriter with his unmistakable wry smile, while on the reverse he used the shape of a guitar created from the words of Kryl’s songs and a motif of barbed wire cut open.

Enrich your collection with another gem – the silver gold-plated medal endowed with a high artistic and spiritual value. The edition is strictly limited to 1,000 pieces.