...Czech Republic - 1000 Koruna 30th Year Of The Central Bank And Czech Koruna Currency

Ceska Republika

(The Czech Republic)

Ceska Narodni Banka

(Czech National Bank - ČNB)

Currency - Koruna (CZK)

 

This is a commemorative note of 1000 koruna/crown released on 08.02.2023, celebrating the country's 30th year of the establishment of the Central Bank (ČNB) and the Czech currency of koruna, following the breaking up of Czechoslovakia on 01.01.1993.

 

The design for this commemorative note is based on the current 2008 series of the 1000 koruna note but with added additional print of a logo to mark this special occasion. A total run of 200,000 pieces have been issued. This new commemorative note was issued as a circulating note, and distribution for this note was limited to five pieces per person. The distributions were made available at five cities in Prague, České Budějovice, Plzeň and Ústí nad Labem, Hradec Králové, Brno and Ostrava. It was reported that long queues were formed on the day of release, and despite 200,000 pieces available, all were sold out on the same day. Given the huge popularity and demand, in my opinion, it is very unlikely any of these notes were ever circulated in the Czech economy, after all, it is now worth much more than the face values printed on the note. However, what I do not understand is that the 100 koruna overprint commemorative issued in 2019 was also restricted to 200,000 pieces, and that at the time of its release, the selling price for this note was very reasonable, and not as inflated as this 1000 koruna commemorative note. Was the 2019 notes not sold out as fast as it was released then, unlike this 1000 koruna 2023 commemorative? I can now see that the 100 koruna overprint commemorative note issued in 2019 is selling more than 20 times what I had paid for then.

The birth of the Czech koruna resulted from the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Czechoslovakia ceased to exist on 01.01.1993, when it split into two independent nations, and called the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The separation was known as the "Velvet divorce", and it was done in a peaceful manner with no arm conflicts or loss of lives. It was reported that the separation was decided by politicians from both sides, without a referendum being called, despite that public opinion at that time was in favour of preserving the country as one. The division of assets was done on a two-to-one ratio in favour of the Czech republic, reflecting the population of Czechoslovakia back then. At the time of the separation, the Czechs and Slovaks combined accounted for two-thirds of the population.

 

Czechoslovakia was formed on 28.10.1918, following the end of the First War Ward. Prior to that, the country was occupied by the Austria-Hungary empire until the end of the First World War. 

This is the second circulating commemorative note issued since 1993. As mentioned above, the first was the 100 koruna note printed with a commemorative logo marking the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Czechoslovak koruna, and was issued in 2019.

The design for this commemorative note is similar to the current 1000 koruna note first issued in 1993, but with added commemorative text on the watermark area to the left-hand side of the note. This note is based on the 2008 series. The current Bank Governor is Ales Michl, who was appointed on 01.07.2022 for a six-year term. However, this note bears the signature of Zdenek Tuma, who was the Bank Governor from 2000 to 2010. A total of 200,000 pieces have been issued at face value.

 

It appears that many prefixes are printed for this commemorative series, all with the letter R with two numeral digits. It also looks like all notes are printed with fairly low serial numbers as well. Here I have posted two of the same note with matching serial numbers but different prefixes.

One Thousand Koruna (s/n R90 000358)

Frantisek Palacky (b.1798-1876)

Front - An image of Frantisek Palacky (b.1798-1876). Frantisek Palacky was a Czech historian and politician. He is also considered as one of the three Fathers of the Nation in the Czech Republic. The other two are King of Bohemia Charles lV and Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, President of Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1935. To the left is printed with the commemorative text: - 

 

ČNB

1993

30

2023

Governor - Zdenek Tuma (tenure 2000-2010)

Watermark - image of Frantisek Palacky and value 1000

Dimensions - 159mm x 75mm

Back - Flapping wings eagle, Archbishop's Castle in Kromeriz. It is believed that this castle was built in the 15th century and was once used as the residence for the bishops and archbishops of Olomouc. The official name for this castle is called Gardens and Castle at Kromeriz. The medieval building is now listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Flapping wings eagle

One Thousand Koruna (s/n R92 000358)

Frantisek Palacky (b.1798-1876)

Flapping wings eagle