Silver coin ČNB 500 CZK Tatra 603 PROOF

2023
year

ČNB
issuer

40 mm
diameter

2,6 mm
thickness

0,8392 troy oz (26,10 g) Ag
weight

92,5% Ag
purity

PROOF
grade

19206 piece
mintage cap

500 CZK
nominal value

This is the last Tatra passenger car with a streamlined body, produced from 1956 for nearly two decades. Although it was built in secret, in contravention of central planning, it became a representative official car used mainly by high-ranking civil servants, directors of national enterprises, ministers and representatives of the communist government. The air-cooled eight-cylinder engine was also admired abroad, where it served Czechoslovak embassies and where it successfully participated in motoring competitions. Despite considerable interest, however, the Tatra 603 was practically not exported. In the early years, the car factory managed to produce only a few dozen units a year, and although supply increased many times during the normalisation period, it still failed to meet demand.

The coin is issued in two versions, regular and proof, which differ in surface finish and edge design.

Regular quality coins have a scalloped edge.

In the top quality coins, the field of the coin is highly polished and the relief is matt, the edge is smooth with the frieze "CNB * PERSONAL CAR * T603 *".

On the obverse side of the five hundred crown is a frontal view of the Tatra 603 passenger car. The upper part of the coin depicts part of the car's dashboard, including part of the steering wheel. The text 'CZECH' is placed at the left edge of the coin and the text 'REPUBLIC' at the bottom edge of the coin. The lower half of the coin is depicted as a floor made of tiles. The denomination of the coin with the abbreviation of the monetary unit '500 CZK' is located at the right edge of the coin. The mark of the Czech Mint, which is a composition of the letters 'Č' and 'M', is placed to the left of the face value.

The reverse side of the 500 CZK is horizontally divided into two parts. The upper part depicts the Tatra 603 passenger car from an oblique view. The lower part of the coin shows a technical drawing of the car from the side view and part of the technical drawing of the car from the top view. The side view of the car is made as an inset element in black. At the upper edge of the coin are the texts 'TATRA 603' and '2023', separated by a dot. To the left of the car in the side view, the car's brand is depicted in the form of its manufacturer's emblem. The initials of the author of the coin Petra Brodská, DiS., which are formed by the interconnected letters "P" and "B", are placed at the right edge of the coin.

Each coin is accompanied by a grey catalogue card with a description of the coin and its plastic representation.

There is a limit of 1 coins per person.