200 korun – Czech Presidency to the EU

On 7 January 2009, the Czech National Bank puts into circulation the first commemorative silver 200 Kč coin issued this year to mark the Czech Presidency of the EU Council. The 200 Kč coin is minted from an alloy containing 900 parts silver and 100 parts copper and is issued in two quality versions, normal quality and proof quality, which differ in surface finish and edge marking. Proof quality coins have a highly polished field and a matt relief; the edge is plain with the frieze “CZECH NATIONAL BANK* Ag 0.900 * 13 g *”. Normal quality coins have milled edges. The coin is 31 mm in diameter, weighs 13 g and is 2.4 mm thick. As with any other coins, deviations in diameter of 0.1 mm and thickness of 0.15 mm are allowed. Upward deviations in weight of 0.26 g and silver content of 1% are permitted.

The obverse of the coin features a circular composition of stylised heraldic animals from the large national emblem with 12 five-pointed stars symbolising the European Union located around its circumference. The name of the state “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA” and the denomination and abbreviated monetary unit “200 Kč” are written around the outer circle. The mark of the mint is located near the bottom edge of the coin between the name of the state and the five-pointed stars. The reverse of the coin features a circle of 12 five-pointed stars symbolising the European Union in the centre of the coin field. Written around the right-hand, bottom and left-hand edge of the coin is a two-line unclosed text “PŘEDSEDNICTVÍ REPUBLIKY V RADĚ EVROPSKÉ UNIE” (CZECH PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION). The right-hand upper edge of the coin features the year of mintage “2009” and the upper edge of the coin features the national flag of the Czech Republic. The coin was designed by Josef Oplištil. His initials, made up of the linked letters “OJ”, are located near the left-hand edge of the national flag.

Each coin comes with a yellow postcard-sized catalogue card with blue print. The relief of the coin is dry-stamped through silver foil. The text is given in Czech and English. The card is the same for the normal-quality and proof-quality coins.