Václav Havel 90 years - Silver strike of ducat

A silver 1 ducat, marking Václav Havel’s 90th birthday, which he did not live to see, is being issued under the premium brand České dukáty, which is part of the Czech Mint.

When the Velvet Revolution broke out on November 17, 1989, Václav Havel took the lead. Although he had not sought political office, he accepted the nomination for the position of head of state. Following his election as the ninth president of Czechoslovakia on December 29, 1989, a man with no ties to the Communist Party took his place at Prague Castle for the first time in forty-one years. The man who assumed the office of president had earned international recognition first as a playwright and then as a key figure in the dissident movement. These three defining roles complemented one another in Havel’s life and could not exist without one another - the playwright’s eloquence enabled the dissident to openly express his views, and the dissident’s reputation lent the president a hallmark of self-sacrifice. Of all Czechoslovak presidents, Václav Havel held this office for the shortest time - a mere two and a half years as he resigned from his post in July 1992 in response to the country’s incipient disintegration. Six months later, however, he was re-elected presiden of the newly formed Czech Republic, which he led for the next ten years…

The design of the medallion, the work of Jiří Harcuba, is based on an artwork created by this renowned medalist in 1998 to mark the 5th anniversary of Václav Havel’s election as President of the Czech Republic. On the obverse side, you will find a portrait of Václav Havel rendered in the artist’s unmistakable style. The statesman’s profile is surrounded by the text VÁCLAV HAVEL – FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. The reverse side of the medallion is dominated by the famous quote TRUTH AND LOVE MUST PREVAIL OVER LIES AND HATRED. Each individual letter is a separate sculptural work as it was typical of Jiří Harcuba.

The mintage totals 1,000 pieces. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each medallion will support the charitable activities of the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97.