Ceska Republika
(The Czech Republic)
Ceska Narodni Banka
(Czech National Bank)
Currency - Koruna (CZK)
This is the second of the Czech Republic (Czechia) three banknotes commemorative series, with the first note released in 2019. Like the first issue, this note also has a face value of 100 koruna, and was issued on 30.03.2022, with a total of 20,000 sets minted in a simple 3-fold folder. The three notes commemorative series are all devoted to Czech economists and the theme of building the Czechoslovak currency. The denomination of 100 (koruna) is used as all three banknotes
celebrate the centennial of the establishment of the Koruna currency in 1919;
the establishment of the Czechoslovak Koruna currency in 1922; and the
establishment of the National Bank of Czechoslovak in 1926. The next note will feature the portrait of Vilem Pospisil, who was the first governor of the National Bank of Czechoslovak, after it was established in 1926. Needless to say, this third note is expected to be released in 2026 to mark the centennial of the National Bank of Czechoslovak/Czechoslovakia (1926-2026).
Like the first issue, the design of this series is completely new and is only released in a folder. All notes are sold at a premium. This new note celebrates the 100th year of the establishment of the Czechoslovak koruna currency. Whilst the official adoption of the koruna currency started in 1919, the koruna (krone/korona) was also used during the Austria-Hungary empire era (1867-1918). After the end of the First World War in 1918, when the Austria-Hungary empire was defeated, only Czechoslovak retained the use of the koruna currency. In 1993, Czechoslovakia split into two sovereign states; the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and in 2004, the Czech Republic became a member of the European Union. Since joining the EU, the Czech Republic has yet to decide when to adopt the Euro common currency. Only eight members of the EU are not using the Euro currency at the moment. Apart from the Czech Republic, the other countries are Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden.
In order not to confuse you, this is how the name of Czechoslovakia changed over the years since the end of World War One in 1918, when the Austria-Hungary empire was dissolved; -
1918-1938 : Czechoslovak Republic;
1938-1939 : Czech-Slovak Republic;
1939-1945 : Nazi German occupation World War Two;
1945-1960 : Czechoslovak Republic;
1960-1989 : Czechoslovakia Socialist Republic;
1990-1992 : Czech and Slovak Federative Republic;
Since 1993 : Czech Republic
Between 1919 and 1926, the banking system in the country was known as The Banking Office of the Ministry of Finance. In 1926, it established the central bank system and was called The National Bank of Czechoslovak. In 1950, the communist regime renamed it to The State Bank of Czechoslovakia. Following the split of Czechoslovakia, the central bank also split into two different banks, the Czech National Bank and National Bank of Slovakia on 01.01.1993.
Like the 2019 100 koruna commemorative note, this 2022 issue is also designed by Eva Haskova. The intended third and final note will also be designed by her as well (or has it been designed). The purpose of this is to maintain artistic and technical uniformity for the entire three note series. Needless to say, the format and features of the third series will be very similar to the first two notes.
One Hundred Koruna
Karel Englis (b.1880-1961) |
Front - Karel Englis (b.1880-1961). He was an economist, political scientist, the First Republic's Minister of Finance of Czechoslovak and the founder of teleological economic theory. Together with Alois Rasin (First Minister of Finance of Czechoslovak), he was involved in the Czechoslovak currency reform after the First World War, and served in six governments as the Minister of Finance from 1920 to 1931. Between 1934 and 1938, he was the Governor of the Central Bank. After the Second World War ended, he withdrew from public life but was constantly targeted by the communist regime. He died in 1961 as a poor man at the age of 81 years old. To his right is the headquarters building of the Czech National Bank in Prague topped by a statue of the Genius with a Lion. Next to it is the Silesian eagle. This note is also printed with a unique hologram depicting the Order of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk medal.
Back - On the back, it features two giants on the facade* of the Clam-Gallas Palace in Prague, and in the background is the former headquarters of the Ministry of Finance of the Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1938). The large Coat of Arms of the Czech Republic is located at the top center of the note.
Governor - Jiri Rusnok (since 01.06.2016)
Imprinter - State Security Printing Works of Securities, Prague
Quantity issue - 20,000 folders
Designer - Eva Haskova
Dimensions - 195mm x 85mm (large size note)
former headquarters of the Ministry of Finance of the Czechoslovak Republic |
Folder outer layer |
Folder inside |
Footnote *; -
Somehow, I am unable to successfully compare the titans image depicted on the
note against the images that I can find on the Internet, especially the titan on the right. It appears that this is a mirror image of what I can find. There must be more than one in that building.
I am also unable to find out the official issue price for this commemorative note. It is not sure if the notes are available to collectors or have been distributed via various numismatic dealers in the country. Needless to say, based on the face value, the market price for this note skyrocketed upon release. However, a collector in The Czech Republic informed me that the Central Bank sold the note for 2000 CZK each. The 2019 commemorative note was sold at 1000 koruna each.
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