618) Czech Lion 2017: Gold Bullion Coins issued by the Czech Republic in collaboration with Niue Islands, under licence from the New Zealand Mint in 5 variants: $5 (encapsulated), $5 (Numbered Blister Pack), $250, $500 and $8,500 issued from July 2017 onwards:

618) Czech Lion 2017: Gold Bullion Coins issued by the Czech Republic in collaboration with Niue Islands, under licence from the New Zealand Mint in 5 variants: $5 (encapsulated), $5 (Numbered Blister Pack), $250, $500 and $8,500 issued from July 2017 onwards:

For other interesting posts on Coins issued by the Czech National Bank, please visit the following links:

1) Czech Lion - Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Czech Republic from July 2017 onwards

2) Czech Lion - Gold Bullion Coins issued by the Czech Republic from July 2017 onwards

3) Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Klaudyan Map or "Klaudyanova Mapa"

For the first time ever, the Czech Republic has issued Gold bullion investment coins: 

 Why  Bullion Czech Coins are good investment:

Coins with the mark "bullion coin" are made of precious metals (Gold, Silver, Platinum etc.) and serve primarily as an investment and a means of preserving value. 

Besides the medium to long-term potential of the evaluation, it also offers the unique advantages of industrial metal.

Czech Lions Gold Bullion Coins:

Gold coins are not just the privilege of numismatics, and they attract the interest of several more investors. 

In this issue 5 variants of the "Gold Lion" investment coins from the Czech Mint, are available to investors, which meet universally accepted standards worldwide, were dedicated to them. The smallest "Czech Lion" is available to investors with a weight of 1/25 Troy ounce.

The "Yellow Metal" diversifies the risk, and is an irreplaceable value-keeper offering investors an interesting appreciation.

Investing in commemorative coins is the ideal solution for those who want to put their funds into precious metals, and also want to own something that has its own collectible prize.

Increasingly, however, investors look for such investment coins especially because of their high liquidity and easy tradability.

The favourable price of gold coins (unlike commemorative coins) does not primarily capture collectible, artistic or historical value. Their "premium" - the difference between the price of precious metal on the exchange and the selling price of the coin - corresponds to this fact.

The Czech Mint has come up with a number of attractive options for investment in gold bullion coins which are the first of its kind embossed in the Czech Republic.

The low weight of gold investment coins allows an investor to easily regulate how much money you invest.

The "Czech Gold Lions" join the ranks of other Bullion coins:

The "Czech Lions" are among such  "investment coins" minted by the Czech Mint and  are the first coins of its kind embossed in the Czech Republic.

Introduced at the Investor Prague Show, the Czech Lion joins the ranks of the American Eagle, the Chinese Panda, the U.K.’s Britannia, the Australian Kangaroo, and several other government-guaranteed bullion programs.

The Czech Lion also joins a more exclusive club:

Well-designed, low-mintage bullion coins that, in their first (and in some cases, only) year of issue, which ultimately end up fetching a premium as collectibles.  As such these coins also can be categorised as “semi-numismatic bullion coins.”

The coins have been minted with the assistance of Niue Islands:

The Czech Republic wanted to issue a bullion coin with Queen Elizabeth II's effigy , with a few Czech motifs on the Obverse, to resemble the Sovereign Gold/Silver bullion coins for wider acceptability world-wide.

 Niue Islands (which has no coining mint) and which usually requisitions the help of various mints world-wide to mint its commemorative/circulating coins, has come to the aid of the Czech Mint and  for a first time helped create this coin for the Czech Republic, which has a mint (the Česká Mincovna) but so far did not have a bullion program.

The Czech Mint’s first bullion coin is the inaugural issue in the “Czech Nationhood” series. 

Why is the Czech Lion coin exceptional?

• The Czech Lion bullion coin  meets the worldwide recognized "bullion coin" investment standards. 
• The favorable price of this coin does not take into account collectible, artistic or historical value, which is likely to be far higher than its initial purchasing cost.
• The price of this coin will depend primarily on the spot price of gold. 
• The coin is easily tradable, among other things thanks to a buyback opportunity.
• The easily recognizable motif of the coin has a strong connection with the Czech Republic.

           

                   The Reverse Design of the Gold Bullion coin 

The Reverse design of the Gold Bullion coin which comes in five variants ($5- encapsulated, $5 (numbered Blister Pack), $250 and $8,500). On the lower periphery is the name of the issuing country - "CESKA REPUBLIKA" (meaning "Czech Republic").

The motifs on the  Reverse  of this investment coin were inspired by the traditional symbols of the Czech Republic - the two-tailed lion, the St. Wenceslas crown and the flaming Saint Wenceslas Eagle - which contributes to the easy identification of the "Czech Lions" on the domestic and world markets.

                           An image of the St. Wenceslas Crown

                                   Czech Republic Coat of Arms The shield/emblems represent the three Czech lands of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia.

The two-tailed Bohemian lion is depicted in a naturalistic style to the right of the field, reclining with its shoulders to the left and its tails to the right.

The double tails have multiple historical explanations, the essence of which is that they convey more than the usual amount of courage.

               An image of the coin Reverse standing on its edge

                  The Obverse Design of the Silver Bullion coin 

The Obverse of this coin carries Niue’s traditional Obverse — but with a difference:

the Queen's effigy designed by Ian Rank-Broadley has been raised above center to make room for a linden branch across the lower portion of the coin,  along with the legends "NIUE ISLAND, ELIZABETH II, 2017 and 5 DOLLAR" (NZD) on the outer periphery.

The New Zealand Mint  has given a license to the Czech Mint to coin its own coins.

The Czech national tree, the linden, is heavily referenced in mythology and is especially long-lived, with some in the country being more than a thousand years old.

 The designer of this silver bullion coin is the late Jaroslav Bejvl Sr., a world-renowned designer of coins, medals, and crystal chandeliers. Bejvl passed away last year at the age of 75, after creating the design but before transferring it to a relief model. A young medalist named Asamat Baltaev stepped in to handle the final steps of the process.

The Gold coin comes in five variants: 
The specifications of each of these coin are:

 Coin 1: Denomination: $5 (Encapsulated); Weight: 1.24 grams (1/25 Oz.); Metal Composition: .9999 Gold; Diameter/Size: 13.0 mm; Mintage: 4,500 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Czech Mint in collaboration with Niue Islands.

                        An image of the encapsulated $5 variant

Coin 2: Denomination: $5; Weight: 1.24 grams (1/25 Oz.); Metal Composition: .9999 Gold; Diameter/Size: 13.0 mm; Mintage: 500 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Czech Mint in collaboration with Niue Islands. Remarks: Numbered Blister Pack.

Coin 3: Denomination: $250; Weight: 155.5 grams (5.0 Oz.); Metal Composition: .9999 Gold; Diameter/Size: 50.0 mm; Mintage: 50 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Czech Mint in collaboration with Niue Islands. Remarks: Dark Wood Box & COA (Certificate of Authenticity).

Coin 4: Denomination: $500; Weight: 311.0 grams (10.0 Oz); Metal Composition: .9999 Gold; Diameter/Size: 65.0 mm; Mintage: 50 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Czech Mint in collaboration with Niue Islands. Remarks: Dark Wood Box & COA (Certificate of Authenticity).

Coin 5: Denomination: $8,000; Weight: 1000.0 grams (1 Kilogram); Metal Composition: .9999 Gold; Diameter/Size: 85.0 mm; Mintage: 50 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Czech Mint in collaboration with Niue Islands. Remarks: Dark Wood Box & COA (Certificate of Authenticity).

617) Czech Lion 2017: Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Czech Republic in collaboration with Niue Islands, under licence from the New Zealand Mint in 4 variants: $1 (encapsulated), $1 (Numbered Blister Pack), $25 and $80 issued from July 2017 onwards:

617) Czech Lion 2017: Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Czech Republic in collaboration with Niue Islands, under licence from the New Zealand Mint in 4 variants: $1 (encapsulated), $1 (Numbered Blister Pack), $25 and $80 issued from July 2017 onwards:

For other interesting posts on Coins issued by the Czech National Bank, please visit the following links:

1) Czech Lion - Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Czech Republic from July 2017 onwards

2) Czech Lion - Gold Bullion Coins issued by the Czech Republic from July 2017 onwards

3) Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Klaudyan Map or "Klaudyanova Mapa"

For the first time ever, the Czech Republic has issued Silver Bullion investment coins: 

 Why Silver Bullion Coins are good investment:

Coins with the mark "bullion coin" are made of precious metals (Gold, Silver, Platinum etc.) and serve primarily as an investment and a means of preserving value.

Silver is an undervalued investment tool, and the number of conservative investors who prefer it to gold is growing.

Besides the medium to long-term potential of the evaluation, it also offers the unique advantages of industrial metal.

The favourable price of silver coins (unlike commemorative coins) does not primarily capture collectible, artistic or historical value. Their "premium" - the difference between the price of precious metal on the exchange and the selling price of the coin - corresponds to this fact.

The "Czech Lions" join the ranks of other Bullion coins:

The Reverse of the "Czech Lion" Silver bullion coin against a panoramic view of Prague Castle 

The "Czech Lions" are among such  "investment coins" minted by the Czech Mint and  are the first coins of its kind embossed in the Czech Republic.

Introduced at the Investor Prague Show, the Czech Lion joins the ranks of the American Eagle, the Chinese Panda, the U.K.’s Britannia, the Australian Kangaroo, and several other government-guaranteed bullion programs.

The Czech Lion also joins a more exclusive club:

Well-designed, low-mintage bullion coins that, in their first (and in some cases, only) year of issue, which ultimately end up fetching a premium as collectibles.  As such these coins also can be categorised as “semi-numismatic bullion coins.”

The coins have been minted with the assistance of Niue Islands:

The Czech Republic wanted to issue a bullion coin with Queen Elizabeth II's effigy , with a few Czech motifs on the Obverse, to resemble the Sovereign Gold/Silver bullion coins for wider acceptability world-wide.

 Niue Islands (which has no coining mint) and which usually requisitions the help of various mints world-wide to mint its commemorative/circulating coins, has come to the aid of the Czech Mint and  for a first time helped create this coin for the Czech Republic, which has a mint (the Česká Mincovna) but so far did not have a bullion program.

The Czech Mint’s first bullion coin is the inaugural issue in the “Czech Nationhood” series. 

Why is the Czech Lion coin exceptional?

• The Czech Lion bullion coin  meets the worldwide recognized "bullion coin" investment standards. 
• The favorable price of this coin does not take into account collectible, artistic or historical value, which is likely to be far higher than its initial purchasing cost.
• The price of this coin will depend primarily on the spot price of silver. the
• The coin is easily tradable, among other things thanks to a buyback opportunity.
• The easily recognizable motif of the coin has a strong connection with the Czech Republic.

                    The Reverse Design of the Silver Bullion coin 

The Reverse design of the silver Bullion coin which comes in four variants ($1- encapsulated, $1, $25 and $80). On the lower periphery is the name of the issuing country - "CESKA REPUBLIKA" (meaning "Czech Republic").

The motifs on the  Reverse  of this investment coin were inspired by the traditional symbols of the Czech Republic - the two-tailed lion, the St. Wenceslas crown and the flaming Saint Wenceslas Eagle - which contributes to the easy identification of the "Czech Lions" on the domestic and world markets.

The shield/emblems represent the three Czech lands of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia.

The two-tailed Bohemian lion is depicted in a naturalistic style to the right of the field, reclining with its shoulders to the left and its tails to the right.

The double tails have multiple historical explanations, the essence of which is that they convey more than the usual amount of courage.

               An image of the coin Reverse standing on its edge

                  The Obverse Design of the Silver Bullion coin 

The Obverse of this coin carries Niue’s traditional Obverse — but with a difference:

the Queen's effigy designed by Ian Rank-Broadley has been raised above center to make room for a linden branch across the lower portion of the coin,  along with the legends "NIUE ISLAND, ELIZABETH II, 2017 and 1 DOLLAR" (NZD) on the outer periphery.

The New Zealand Mint  has given a license to the Czech Mint to coin its own coins.

The Czech national tree, the linden, is heavily referenced in mythology and is especially long-lived, with some in the country being more than a thousand years old.

 The designer of this silver bullion coin is the late Jaroslav Bejvl Sr., a world-renowned designer of coins, medals, and crystal chandeliers. Bejvl passed away last year at the age of 75, after creating the design but before transferring it to a relief model. A young medalist named Asamat Baltaev stepped in to handle the final steps of the process.

The coin comes in four variants: 
The specifications of each of these coin are:

 Coin 1: Denomination: $1 (Encapsulated); Weight: 31.1 grams (1 Oz.); Metal Composition: .999 Silver; Diameter/Size: 37.0 mm; Mintage:500 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Czech Mint in collaboration with Niue Islands.

Coin 2: Denomination: $1; Weight: 31.1 grams (1 Oz.); Metal Composition: .999 Silver; Diameter/Size: 37.0 mm; Mintage: 9,500 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Czech Mint in collaboration with Niue Islands. Remarks: Numbered Blister Pack.

Coin 3: Denomination: $25; Weight: 311.0 grams (10.0 Oz.); Metal Composition: .999 Silver; Diameter/Size: 75.0 mm; Mintage: 200 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Czech Mint in collaboration with Niue Islands. Remarks: Blond Wood Box & COA (Certificate of Authenticity).

Coin 4: Denomination: $80; Weight: 1,000 grams (1.0 Kilogram); Metal Composition: .999 Silver; Diameter/Size: 90.0 mm; Mintage: 200 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Czech Mint in collaboration with Niue Islands. Remarks: Blond Wood Box & COA (Certificate of Authenticity).

One troy ounce of silver is one of the world's most popular investment choices!

616) 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation: 10,000 Forint (silver) coin and 2,000 Forint (cupro-nickel) coin issued by the National Bank of Hungary on 31.10.2017:

616) 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation: 10,000 Forint (silver) coin and 2,000 Forint (cupro-nickel) coin issued by the National Bank of Hungary on 31.10.2017:

 About Martin Luther: 

Martin Luther was a German Professor of theology, composer, priest and an Augustinian monk and a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation.

He rejected several teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church and strongly disputed the Catholic view on "indulgences" that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money.

He proposed an academic discussion of the practice and efficacy of indulgences in his "Ninety-five Theses" of 1517.

His refusal to renounce all of his writings on the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521, resulted in his excommunication by the Pope and condemnation as an "outlaw" by the Emperor.

Luther taught that salvation and consequently eternal life are not earned by good deeds but are received only as the "free gift" of God's grace through a believer's faith in Jesus Christ as the Redeemer from sin.

His theology challenged the authority and office of the Pope by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge from God and opposed sacredototalism (a belief that propitiatory sacrifices forsin require the intervention of a priest) by considering all baptised Christians to be a holy priesthood.

Those who identify with these beliefs and all of Luther's wider teachings are called "Lutherans", though Luther himself insisted on "Christian" or "Evangelical" (evangelisch) as the only acceptable names for individuals who professed Christ.

His translation of the Bible into the German vernacular (instead of Latin) made it more accessible to the laity, an event that had a tremendous impact on both the Church and German culture.

It fostered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art ot translation and influenced the writing of an English translation - the "Tyndale Bible".

His hymns influenced the development of singing in Protestant churches. His marriage to Katharina von Bora (a former nun) set a model for the practice of clerical marriage, allowing Protestant clergy to marry.

With over 80 million adherents, the Lutheran Church presently constitutes the third most common Protestant denomination after the Pentecostal denominations and Anglicanism. The Lutheran World Federation, the largest communion of Lutheran Churches, represents over 72 million people.

"Luther" is the title of a biopic screened in 2003, which was a film covering Luther's life from becoming a monk in 1505 to the Diet of Augsburg in 1530. It was part funded by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Reformation Day:


Reformation Day commemorates the publication of the Ninety Five Theses in 1517 by Martin Luther. It is a civic holiday in several German states. Slovenia and Hungary celebrate it due to the great contribution of the Reformation to its culture. Austria declares a restricted holiday for Protestants. Switzerland celebrates the holiday on the first Sunday after 31st October. In addition, it is celebrated in many other parts of the world.

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, , nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of a church in the German town of Wittenberg.

This set off the seminal event known as the Protestant Reformation.

In doing so, he challenged the position of the Catholic Church on the forgiveness of sins. The theses claimed that it was not the Pope, but God alone who could forgive sins, based on the repentance of the sinner. Accordingly, Luther’s theses condemned the practice of selling indulgences. This act initiated the great movement of the Protestant Reformation, which spread very quickly and enjoyed mounting support in society.

The spread of the Reformation to Hungary:

By the middle of the century, the Reformation began to spread in Hungary, contributing greatly to the development of Hungarian language and literature.

One of the Reformation’s fundamental ideas was that everyone should have access to the Bible in their native language.

As a result of the Reformation, new centers of culture developed, and the first full Hungarian version of the Bible, translated by Gáspár Károli, was printed in Vizsoly.

The Reformed Church became the most influential branch of Protestantism in Hungary, but the Lutheran Church and the Unitarian Church also had significant impacts on the nation’s cultural history.

Commemorative coins issued by the Bank of Hungary:

To mark the Reformation’s 500th anniversary, the National Bank of Hungary has issued a 10,000-forint coin in silver and a 2,000-forint coin in cupro-nickel.

An image of the Obverse and Reverse of the 2,000 Forint, (Cupro-nickel) coin against the backdrop of a stained-glass image of Martin Luther holding a translated copy of the Bible

An image of the two coins - Obverses and Reverses - all together

An image of the Obverse and Reverse of the 10,000 Forint Silver coin

                 The Obverse of the 10,000 Forint silver coin

It depicts the facade of a church with open gates, symbolizing that the Reformation brought people closer to religion, as the word of God was preached in local languages as opposed to exclusively Latin.

The sturdy walls of the church allude to the Protestant hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” which was composed by Martin Luther.

The image of a dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit, appears in the window of the church. The rays emanating from the open gates symbolize the Holy Spirit flowing out.

On the right periphery of this face is mentioned the year of issue "2017".

On the lower periphery is mentioned "MAGYARORSZAG. 10,000 FORINT" (meaning "Hungary, 10,000 Forint").

                    The Reverse of the 10,000 Forint Silver coin

It shows an open Bible, with the Greek letters alpha on the left and omega on the right, standing for the beginning and the end, placed on a window-sill.

Believers say the Reformation sharpened the focus on the Holy Scriptures as the one true source.

Above the Bible, a dove can be seen in a window, indicating that the Bible can be understood only with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The legend "REFORMACIO 500 EVE" (meaning "500th Anniversary of the Reformation") is at the bottom of a ribbon-like bookmark, also indicating that the process has not ended and that reformation and renewal are always needed.

The mark of the sculptor, Róbert Csíkszentmihályi ("CSR"), is on the other end of the ribbon.

The specifications of this coin are:

Coin Quality: Proof; Metal Composition: .925 silver;  Diameter/Size: 38.61 mm (1.52 inches);  Weight: 31.46 grams;  Mintage limit: 5,000 coins. Year of issue: 2017; Issue Date: 31.10.2017.

An image of the Obverse and Reverse of the 2,000 Forint Cupro-nickel coin

                      The Obverse of the 2,000 Forint Cupro-nickel coin

It depicts the facade of a church with open gates, symbolizing that the Reformation brought people closer to religion, as the word of God was preached in local languages as opposed to exclusively Latin.

The sturdy walls of the church allude to the Protestant hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” which was composed by Martin Luther.

The image of a dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit, appears in the window of the church. The rays emanating from the open gates symbolize the Holy Spirit flowing out.

On the right periphery of this face is mentioned the year of issue "2017".

On the lower periphery is mentioned "MAGYARORSZAG. 2,000 FORINT" (meaning "Hungary, 2,000 Forint").

              The Reverse of the 2,000 Forint Cupro-nickel coin

It shows an open Bible, with the Greek letters alpha on the left and omega on the right, standing for the beginning and the end, placed on a window-sill.

Believers say the Reformation sharpened the focus on the Holy Scriptures as the one true source.

Above the Bible, a dove can be seen in a window, indicating that the Bible can be understood only with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The legend "REFORMACIO 500 EVE" (meaning "500th Anniversary of the Reformation") is at the bottom of a ribbon-like bookmark, also indicating that the process has not ended and that reformation and renewal are always needed.

The mark of the sculptor, Róbert Csíkszentmihályi ("CSR"), is on the other end of the ribbon.

The specifications of this coin are:

Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated; Metal Composition: .925 silver;  Diameter/Size: 38.61 mm (1.52 inches);  Weight: 30.80 grams;  Mintage limit: 5,000 coins. Year of issue: 2017; Issue Date: 31.10.2017.

Posted on 12.01.2018:

A Miniature Sheet of Stamps from Belgium Post, commemorating 500 Years of Reformation

Technical Details:

Issue Date: 12.06.2017

Size: 189.0 mm x 155.0 mm

Printer: Stamps Production, Belgium 

Process: combined photo-and rotogravure

Colours: four

Designer: Guillaume Broux and Myriam Voz

Links to posts on Hungarian coins & currency this Blog:

1) Currency and Coinage of Hungary: Forints & Fillers: Forint "Papirpenz" (Banknotes) and Forint "Ermek" (Coins) in Hungarian

2) Janos Arany:Commemorating the Bicentenary of his birth with a set of 3 coins: 5000 Forint, 10000 Forint Silver coin and 2000 Forint Base Metal Coin by Magyar Nemzeti Bank on 03.03.2017

3) Bukk National Park, Hungary" Fourth in the Hungarian National Park Series launched in 2010: Two coins Silver HUF 10000 (Forints) and Base Metal HUF 2000 (Forints) issued on 21.04.2017

4) Janos Iriniyi: Inventor of the noiseless & non-explosive match: 200th Birth anniversary commemorated on 2000 Forint (cupro-nickel) rectangular coin ; Issue date: 18.05.2017 

615) Jirisan and Bukhansan National Parks, South Korea: Bank of Korea begins the National Parks series with new silver coins issued in 2017:

615) Jirisan and Bukhansan National Parks, South Korea: Bank of Korea begins the  National Parks series  with new silver coins issued in 2017:

The National Park Coin Series:

From 2017 onwards, each year, the Bank of Korea will be issuing two to four types of commemorative coins, including one depicting a national park located in the Baekdudaegan Mountains — the mountain range known as the backbone of Korea — and one to three more coins selected in consideration for the characteristics of each national park, the number of visitors, and regional distribution.

A total of eight mountains are designated as Baekdudaegan Mountains. They include Jirisan, Deogyusan, Songnisan, Woraksan, Sobaeksan, Taebaeksan, Odaesan, and Seoraksan (in order from south to north).

The Bank of Korea plans to issue a series of Korean national parks commemorative coins depicting all 22 Korean National Parks over a period not to exceed seven years, starting this year. The commemorative coins issued by the Bank of Korea will be acquired, packaged, and distributed by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO), the official mint for the Bank of Korea.

The Republic of Korea National Parks Commemorative Coin Series has commenced with the first coin honouring Jirisan this year, followed by the Bukhansan National Park.

The Bank of Korea has issued two new Proof-quality silver coins in 2017, which are dedicated to Korean National Parks in an effort to make the beauty of Korea’s natural environment and the future value of ecological preservation more widely known. 

The Obverse of the coin depicting the Bukhansan National Park.

The coins issued in 2017 are  the first in this new  series, which feature the National Parks of Jirisan and Bukhansan.

This year, in particular, marks the 50th anniversary of the designation of Jirisan as the first-ever National Park in Korea in 1967.

Bukhansan was chosen as one of the first national parks to be honoured, as it is the only national park in the Seoul metropolitan area and also has the greatest number of visitors among all mountainous national parks.

 The Obverse of this 30,000 Won Silver coin depicts a colour application of Cheonwangbong and the peaks of Jirisan. Cheonwangbong is the highest peak of Jirisan, reaching a height of 1,915 metres (6,280 feet).

The Reverse this 30,000 Won Silver coin depicts an Asiatic black bear and Korean winter hazel — two flagship and thriving species of Jirisan.

The Asiatic black bear is designated as a first-class endangered species, and a restoration program is currently being carried out in Jirisan. The bear is very distinctive as its chest has a half-moon shape of white fur. The Korean winter hazel is a Korean indigenous plant. This tree, together with the ginger plant, gives the region the first sign that spring has arrived. Its flowers are noted for their drooping appearance, similar to ears of rice.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 30,000 Won; Metallic Composition: .999 Silver; Weight: 14.0 grams; Diameter: 32.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with Applied colour; No. of coins minted: 10,000; Year of minting: 2017; Minted by: Bank of Korea.

 The Obverse of the second 30,000 Won Silver coin depicts   a colour application of Baegundae, Insubong, and the Bukhansanseong Fortress.

Baegundae is the highest peak (reaching a height of 836 metres or 2,740 feet) of Bukhansan and features a large rock area at its top. Insubong is a major peak (with a height of 810 metres or 2,755 feet) of Bukhansan, along with Baegundae and Mangyeongdae.

It is the largest granite area in East Asia and is the most famous rock-climbing site in Korea. Bukhansanseong is a mountain fortress built in 1711, which was the 37th year of King Sukjong’s reign protecting Hanyang during the Joseon Dynasty.

The Reverse of the second 30,000 Won Silver coin depicts  shows the great spotted woodpecker and rocky forsythia, two thriving flagship species at Bukhansan National Park.

The great spotted woodpecker is a resident bird found throughout the Bukhansan area. Its main diet consists of caterpillars in tree trunks, and it has a large white shape on its shoulders. The male great spotted woodpecker also has a dark red, spotted pattern on the back of its neck.

Rocky forsythia is a Korean indigenous plant which has longer petals and a lighter colour than the forsythia.

The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: 30,000 Won; Metallic Composition: .999 Silver; Weight: 14.0 grams; Diameter: 32.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with Applied colour; No. of coins minted: 10,000; Year of minting: 2017; Minted by: Bank of Korea.






Links to Korean Coinage & Currency posts on this blog:

1) Coinage & Currency of South Korea: (Part I): Historical Development of Coinage in South Korea

2) Coinage & Currency of South Korea: (Part II): Historical Development of Banknotes

3) PyeongChang 2018 or PyeongChang Winter Olympics to be held in South Korea from 09-25 Fen 2018 and Paralympics from 09-18 March 2018. A 2,000 Won Banknote issued by Bank of Korea on 17.11.2017

4) Jirisan and Bukhansan National Parks, South Korea: Bank of Korea commenced the National Park series with the issue of two silver 30,000 Won coins in 2017

					10,000