Silver coin ČNB 200 Kč 500th anniversary of the birth of Jan Blahoslav PROOF

2023
year

ČNB
issuer

31 mm
diameter

2,2 mm
thickness

0,418 troy oz (13,00 g) Ag
weight

92,5% Ag
purity

PROOF
grade

18496 piece
mintage cap

200 CZK
nominal value

The Bishop of the Unity of Brethren, Jan Blahoslav, can be regarded as the predecessor of Jan Amos Comenius. His life was filled with teaching ministry, as he held that scholarship and knowledge were essential for the members of his church. He was concerned with the education of the clergy and was instrumental in establishing a printing press where he worked on pedagogical, moralistic, and other writings. His manuals dealt with every conceivable doctrine of the time - grammar, rhetoric, poetics, and music. He wrote the first Czech syllabary, and his interest in linguistic matters was of use to preachers and translators alike. Blahoslav's crowning work was undoubtedly the translation of the New Testament from Hebrew and Greek into Czech, which became the model for the translation of the remaining parts of Scripture. The comprehensive work, which was worked on by the best experts of the Unity of Brethren, then went down in history as the King James Bible.

Interestingly, Jan Blahoslav was one of the first Czechs and Moravians to wear glasses in the 16th century. The reverse side of the coin also has dioptric glasses, which is the work of the medal maker Vojtěch Dostál, DiS.

On the obverse side of the bicrown is a composition of the spine and title page of the book Gramatika česká from 1571. The title page is complemented by a symbolic cross. The text 'CZECH REPUBLIC 200 Kč' appears on the spine of the book. The Czech Mint mark consisting of the letters 'Č' and 'M' is placed at the bottom edge of the coin. On the reverse side, the composition of the obverse side is preserved. The portrait of Jan Blahoslav is depicted on the title page and the text '1523 JAN BLAHOSLAV 2023' appears on the spine of the book. The initials of the author of the coin, Vojtěch Dostál, DiS., which is formed by an inverted letter "D", are placed at the bottom edge of the coin.

In PROOF quality, the field of the coin is highly polished and the relief is matt, the edge is smooth with the frieze "CZECH NATIONAL BANK Ag 0.925 13 g".

Each coin is accompanied by a catalogue card in light purple colour, which contains a description of the coin and its plastic representation.