The Czech Republic, the Czech currency and the Czech Mint were founded exactly 30 years ago. The round jubilee in 2023 is commemorated by an extraordinary commemorative medal minted from one troy ounce of pure silver.

Between 1918 and 1992, the only mint of the Czechoslovak Republic was the State Mint in Kremnica, Slovakia. The collapse of the state in 1993 contributed to the division of the common currency, and since there was no mint on the territory of the newly formed Czech Republic, the Czech National Bank began looking for a replacement. It did not intend to build a state-owned enterprise, therefore, it issued a public tender. The winner was the company Bižuterie from Jablonec nad Nisou, which could offer a wealth of experience in metal production. The new division of Bižuterie called Česká mincovna (the Czech Mint) was inaugurated on 1 July 1993. Firstly, circulation coins were minted here, then commemorative coins, and the Czech Mint has been the exclusive producer of all Czech coins since 1996. However, it did not automatically gain its position. It has been successfully bidding for mint contracts in the Czech National Bank's tenders for 30 years. In addition to production for the needs of the state, the Czech Mint prepares its own issue plan every year, which includes dozens of titles. They combine top artistic and craft workmanship, strictly limited issue plan and the advantages of precious metals. Their reliefs contain many emotions and thousands of years of love for the craft…

Jablonec nad Nisou is not only home to the Czech Mint, but also to a higher vocational school that educates young medal makers - or future coin and medal makers. The design of this commemorative medal is based on their art competition. “For the obverse side of the medal I chose the motif of an apple tree, which symbolizes the town of Jablonec nad Nisou. One of the apples bears the mark of the Czech Mint and the annual years 1993 and 2023 are incorporated next to it. Another element of the obverse side is three falling ten crowns, the sum of which gives the number thirty," says the winner of the student competition, Alžběta Blažejová. "The reverse side then bears the motif of a Czech lion - roaring, leaping, with two tails and a crown on its head, in one paw holding a one-crown coin and in the other a penny, which informs about the thirtieth anniversary. Other Czech circulation coins are embedded in the flowing mane," adds the young medal maker.

The commemorative medal of the Czech Mint boasts high relief, patina and hand numbering on the edge.