2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
As in most places in the world, the Czech currency is issued in the form of paper notes and coins. Although the Czech Republic is officially a member of the European Union, the euro is rarely accepted as a means of payment in Czech institutions. Instead, the Czechs use their own currency, known as the kroon, which is abbreviated as CZK or Kč.
Before the collapse of the country in 1993, the Czechoslovak kroon was in circulation, but after Czechoslovakia split and the currencies for Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia were divided, the kroon became a new form of payment for the Czech people.
History of Czech money
Many say that the Czech crown was the first autonomous currency introduced after the independence of the countries formerly part of Czechoslovakia. But the krone's history dates back to the 1800s, when money, called krone in German and koruna in Bohemia, was introduced as the first gold currency in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The Czech crown went out of circulation between 1939 and 1945 due to the occupation of the German Reich. Herstopped using, and in the Czech Republic they began to use the Reichsmark. But after the liberation of the country, the crown returned again.
Currently, twelve forms of krone are used: six banknotes and six coins of the Czech Republic, each with a different meaning. There are banknotes of 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 crowns in circulation. There is also a 5000 crown note, but it is rarely used.
Czech coins, the weight and size of which increase in accordance with the growth of their value, have denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 crowns. Each of them currently in use was designed by Czech architects and sculptors. The photo of Czech coins shows that each of them is beautiful in its own way. There are also several specialized and commemorative coins that are of great value.
Until 2008, the Czechs also used small change coins known as hellers (haléř or hellers), but they have since disappeared from circulation.
The term "heller" was used to refer to a coin that was 1/100 krone in the Czech Republic (Czech Crown) and Slovakia (Slovak Crown) and in the former Czechoslovakia (Czechoslovak Crown).
All Czech currency is issued exclusively by the Central Bank of the Czech Republic (CNB).
One crown
This Czech coin (2 CZK) is made of nickel-plated steel. Minted in 1993 at the Royal Canadian Mint Winnipeg, and since 1994 at the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou.
- Features -material: galvanized steel with nickel, magnetic; round shape; weight 3.6g, diameter (D) 20mm, thickness (s) 1.85mm; milling edge with 80 grooves; tolerances: nickel content -0.5%, weight ± 0.15g, diameter ± 0.1mm, thickness ± 0.13mm.
- Design by sculptor Yarmila Trukhlikova-Spavakova.
- On the front side - the image of the Czech lion.
- On the reverse side is the denomination above the image of the crown of St. Wenceslas.
Two Crowns
This Czech coin (2 CZK) is also made of nickel-plated steel. Minted in 1993 and 1994 at the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg, and since 1994 at the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou.
- Characteristics - material: galvanized steel with nickel, magnetic; 11-sided; weight 3.7 g, D - 21.5 mm, s - 1.85 mm; the edge is rounded and simple; tolerances: nickel content -0.5%, weight ± 0.15g, diameter ± 0.1mm, thickness ± 0.13mm.
- Design by sculptor Yarmila Trukhlikova-Spavakova.
- On the front side - the image of the Czech lion.
- On the reverse side - the denomination adjacent to the large Moravian pearl.
Five crowns
The Czech 5 CZK coin is also made of nickel-plated steel, but slightly larger than previous coins. Minted in 1993 and 1994 at the Royal Canadian Mint Winnipeg, and since 1994 at the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou.
- Characteristics - material: galvanized steel with nickel, magnetic; round shape; weight 4.8 g, diameter 23 mm,thickness 1.85mm; smooth edge; tolerances: nickel content -0.5%, weight ± 0.15g, diameter ± 0.1mm, thickness ± 0.13mm.
- Designed by sculptor Jiří Harkuba.
- On the front side there is an image of a Czech lion.
- On the reverse side - the denomination against the background of a stylized image of the Charles Bridge and the Vltava River; the lime leaf on the bridge symbolizes one of the towers of the bridge.
Ten crowns
The 10 CZK coin is made of galvanized steel. Issued into circulation since May 12, 1993; 1995 revision in circulation since November 1, 2011. A 2000 version of the coin has also been released. Minted in 1993 at the Hamburg Mint in Hamburg and since 1994 at the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou.
- Characteristics - material: galvanized steel with copper, magnetic; round shape; weight 7.62 g, diameter 24.5 mm, thickness 2.55 mm; milling edge with 144 grooves; tolerances: nickel content -1%, weight ± 0.25g, diameter ± 0.1mm, thickness ± 0.05mm.
- Designed by sculptor Ladislav Kozak.
- On the front side there is an image of a Czech lion.
- On the reverse side is the denomination against the background of the Petrov National Monument in Brno.
- Differences between the variants - the front side has been changed, the designer's initials have been moved; in the original version they were to the left of the large nominal number, and in the new version they are in the middle at the bottom edge of the coin.
Twenty crowns
The 20 CZK coin also has two versions. Both are covered with brass steel. On the one hand, just like all other coins, they have a symbolCzech lion, on the other side is depicted St. Wenceslas, who rides his horse, similar to the famous statue on Wenceslas Square, in another version, a fragment of an astronomical machine is depicted.
1993 version in circulation since May 12, 1993, there is also a 2000 version, three 2018 versions. Minted in 1993 and 1994 at the Hamburg Mint and since 1995 at the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou.
- Features - material: steel plated with 75% copper and 25% zinc alloy and electroplated with 72% copper and 28% zinc alloy; magnetic; 13-sided; weight 8.43 g, diameter 26 mm, thickness 2.55 mm; with rounded and simple, tolerances: alloy content ± 1%, weight ± 0.25 g, diameter ± 0.1 mm, thickness ± 0.05 mm. A coin that has been minted since 2012: material: steel plated with an alloy of 75% copper and 25% zinc and electroplated with an alloy of 70% copper and 30% zinc; magnetic; 13-sided; weight 8.43 g, diameter 26 mm, thickness 2.55 mm; tolerances: alloy content ± 1%, weight ± 0.25g, diameter ± 0.1mm, thickness ± 0.05mm.
- Designed by sculptor Vladimir Oppl.
- On the front side there is an image of a Czech lion.
- On the reverse side - the denomination adjacent to the figure of St. Wenceslas, based on the monument on Wenceslas Square in Prague; in the background is an inscription from this monument.
Fifty crowns
The 50 CZK coin of the 1993 version has been in circulation since April 7, 1993. Minted in 1993 and 1994 at the Hamburg Mint in Hamburg and1995 at the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou.
- Characteristics - bimetallic coin; material: steel plated and galvanized on the ring with copper and plated in the center with an alloy of 75% copper and 25% zinc; magnetic; round shape; weight 9.7 g, diameter 27.5 mm (center diameter 17 mm), thickness 2.55 mm; simple edge; tolerances: copper content ± 1%, weight ± 0.25g, diameter ± 0.1mm, thickness ± 0.05mm.
- Designed by sculptor Ladislav Kozak.
- On the front side in the center there is an image of a Czech lion, on the ring there is a denomination number.
- Reverse side - in the center is a group of buildings typical of Prague, on the ring there is a Latin inscription.
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