Czech crowns: information for a collector or tourist

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Today there are few European states that have retained their national currency. Among them is the Czech Republic. This country is still not going to introduce the euro into circulation. Czech crowns are not only money. On

they reflect a number of events from the history of the country, as well as prominent figures and architectural monuments.

Money appeared in the Czech Republic a very long time ago. The Celtic tribe living in the vicinity of modern Prague began minting their gold coins around 120 AD. Money of various denominations was used in this territory - florins, ducats, tolars, pennies, dinars, etc. And the Czech crowns (korunas) proper appeared in 1919. Some of the banknotes issued at that time were real masterpieces of fine art, which not every bonist collector now has. For example, one of the banknotes, dating from 1919, is estimated at at least half a million current crowns.

In the troubled times of the fascist occupation, the Czechs used a variety of banknotes. They paid with everything that was at hand - from Reichsmarks to Hungarian penge. After the end of the war, Czech crowns, issuedby the Beneš government in exile. But they lasted only three years in circulation. The new communist government issued its own money in 1948. These were nondescript banknotes that depicted representatives of the proletariat and the working class. Beautiful banknotes issued before the German occupation are gone forever.

After the so-called Velvet Revolution of 1989, Czechoslovakia, oriented towards the USSR as a "big brother", broke up into two independent states. There was a need to create new banknotes. Modern Czech crowns have images of prominent figures who have contributed to the development of the country.

Naturally, the rich history of the currency of this state cannot but attract the interest of numismatists and bonists. Especially valuable are the banknotes of 1919-1935. Talented artists Alphonse Mucha and Maximilian Shvabinsky worked on their appearance. For banknotes of 1000 and 5000 crowns issued in those years, modern collectors are willing to pay thousands of dollars.

The currency of the Czech Republic is a very interesting topic not only for bonists, but also for tourists. The fact is that gullible travelers in many exchange offices of this beautiful country have already learned how to deceive. As an example: 2,000 Bulgarian lei are often slipped instead of 2,000 crowns. These banknotes are visually very similar, but the value of the leu is much lower. Another trick of scammers is to hand over banknotes of 50 crowns, which have long been withdrawn from circulation. Therefore, with such moneycan't pay off. If you decide to go to this country and will change the currency there, do not be too lazy to first see how the Czech crowns look, so as not to confuse them with the same Bulgarian lei. Also pay attention to how much money you will carry with you. The fact is that Czech banks or exchange offices are unlikely to change you some little-known currency for crowns. For example, if you are traveling with Belarusian rubles in your hands, then it will be difficult for you to sell them. It is quite possible that the same will await those who bring Ukrainian hryvnia with them. But exchanging Russian rubles for crowns is not such a problem. If you see that the exchange office is trying to deceive you (and this happens often), politely let them know. If there is no adequate response, immediately call the police at short number 112. The Czech koruna is related to the euro as 1:0, 04. In other words, one unit of the national currency is equal to four cents. The exchange rate of the Czech crown against the ruble is kept at the level of 1:1, 7.