After a 4.5 year hunt since I first saw this medal listed in the Krause "Unusual World Coins" guide, I finally purchased a nice example. These don't come up for sale very often in gem, or even UNC for that matter, with an original mintage of 3,259 pieces. This one was sold by a Collectors Universe forum member (PCGS' forum) and is item #265 in my horse-themed numismatic collection. Strictly speaking, this is a commemorative medal (not a coin intended for circulation) with nominal value of 10 Dukaten, struck in 1929 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the assassination and death of Duke Wenceslas (or more commonly known as St. Wenceslas). The Krause guide for this medal describes it as commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity to Bohemia. This is not what the medal was struck to commemorate, as Christianity was prevalent in Moravia and Bohemia some 100 years before the year 929. I surmise that some of the confusion comes from the date of 929 -- at the time the medal was struck, scholars mostly assigned a death year to St. Wenceslas of 929. However, since the early 20th century, most scholars agree St. Wenceslas was likely assassinated in 935, not 929. Nonetheless, this is just one of many examples where you can't always believe descriptions offered in the Krause guide (and other guides). The medal was designed by Otakar Spaniel (b. 1881 - d. 1955), and was struck at the mint in Kremnica (Kremnitz). Kremnica was among the major mining towns of the world during the Middle Ages and modern times due to the abundant gold ore deposits in the Kremnica Mountains. Gold mining and coin production in Kremnica culminated in the 14th and 15th centuries. As one of the most important centers of Protestant Reformation in the country, the town belonged to the Protestant "League of Seven Mining Towns". The last gold was extracted in Kremnica in 1970, when all the mines were closed. ===================================== Denomination: Medallic Issue 10 Ducats Theme: 1000th Anniversary of the death of St. Wenceslas Mintage: 3,259 pieces Mint: Kremnica (Kremnitz) Material: 0.987 silver Weight: 30.05 gm Diameter: 40 mm Reference: Krause XM6 Obverse: Duke Wenceslas with banner. Shield with heraldic eagle in left field. Legend: ROZVZPOMEN SE - NA SVE PLEME (translated roughly as "do not forget our homeland") Reverse: Duke Wenceslas with banner on horse left, flanked by two angels. Anniversary dates below denote the 1000th anniversary of the death of St. Wenceslas (929-1929). ===================================== Below are my images, and the images from PCGS. As is almost always the case in my experience, the PCGS images are red-shifted. However, the PCGS images do show off the pristine surfaces of this medal. It is beautifully toned in light champagne shades, with satiny luster and sharp details. An example I'm proud to have in my collection!
amazing medal. I especially like the rider on the horse side. amazing grade too. it feels so good to finally get something you have been hunting for. it took me 12 years to find/get my avatar Belgium coin. thanks for sharing it.
Very nice piece! Interesting how, on the obverse, Wenceslas's cloak is spread out to form this circular pattern. Similarly, the wings of the angels on the other side are "extended" almost to the bottom. As for the "introduction of Christianity", well, three years ago Slovakia (same Kremnica mint) issued a coin that commemorated the 1150th anniversary of the Mission of Constantine and Methodius in Great Moravia. At that time - in 863 - the area was obviously "mostly Christian" already ... Christian
