4002) Eliška Rejčka, Czech Mint: A Set of Gold Ducat and Silver Thaler: Dowry Towns of
Bohemian Queens: Date/Year of Coins issue: 03/2025:
Royal dowry cities:
Medieval queens did not have it easy.
Families often
treated them as mere pawns on a political chessboard, who needed to be married
off appropriately, and when their husbands died, they had to fight for their
rightful position.
To make their lot easier, they were given entire cities as
pledges by kings. These cities then paid them taxes and became their refuge in
difficult times. The stories of Bohemian queens and their dowry cities are
reminiscent of the sets of the Czech Mint, which consist of a gold ducat and a
silver thaler.
The first set belongs to Eliška Rejčka – a double queen
and a double widow, who found herself in the middle of a power struggle during
a difficult time when the Přemyslid, Habsburg and Luxembourg dynasties fought
for control of her country.
Fortunately, both deceased husbands remembered her
generously.
As a pledge, she received five dowry towns from them, where she
could take refuge.
From Wenceslas II - Chrudim, Vysoké Mýto and Hradec Králové,
which this year celebrates 800 years since the first written mention.
From
Rudolf Habsburg - Polička and Jaroměř.
The Coins:
The edition is limited to just 200 sets!
The first set of a gold ducat and a silver thaler from
the cycle of the Czech Mint called Royal Dowry Towns recalls the troubled fate
of Eliška Rejčka.
Her life had been hard. She was born as Richenza and was
the only daughter of the Polish King Przemysł II, Duke of Poland, who was
murdered.
She was to become the wife of Ota of Brandenburg, son of the Margrave
of Brandenburg, but he died unexpectedly.
When she was only twelve years old,
she was married to the widowed Bohemian King Wenceslas II.
She became the
stepmother of his children, who were the same age as herself, and was soon
crowned Queen of Bohemia and Poland.
She took the name Eliška and her original
name was corrupted to Rejčka.
She bore a daughter, Anežka, but her joy did not
last long - a few days later, at the age of seventeen, she became a widow.
Eliška's stepson Wenceslas III ascended to the Czech throne, but he was
murdered only a year later.
The Přemyslids died out by the sword and Eliška
Rejčka stood in the middle of a power struggle.
The winner of this rivalry and
the new King of Bohemia was Rudolf of Habsburg, who married Eliška. She became
queen for a second time, but only briefly, as Rudolf fell in battle a year
later.
The young double widow found herself in a difficult situation, with the
Premyslid, Habsburg and Luxemburg dynasties all struggling for control of her
country.
Fortunately, both deceased husbands remembered her generously. As a
pledge, she received from them five dowry towns where she could take refuge -
Hradec Králové, Chrudim and Vysoké Mýto from Václav, Polička and Jaroměř from
Rudolf.
Thanks to this, Eliška's fortune amounted to forty thousand talents of
silver, and a horse was then worth four talents.
Despite her wealth, she
competed unsuccessfully for power with her stepdaughter Eliška Přemyslovna,
whose husband John of Luxembourg eventually became the next King of Bohemia.
She found her last love and support in the arms of the powerful nobleman Henry
of Lipá. After she left her dowry towns to the king in return for a generous
indemnity, she and her lover left to Brno, where they lived out their days - at
a court whose splendour eclipsed even that of Prague. She entered history as an
ambitious woman, a skilful diplomat and a great promoter of faith and
education...
The two-piece set is the work of academic sculptor Michal
Vitanovský.
The obverse side of the ducat features the crowned head of Eliška
Rejčka depicted from a three-quarter view on a surface partly covered with
Gothic decoration.
The obverse side of the thaler bears a stylised medieval
map of Hradec Králové's surroundings, presenting the city at the confluence of
rivers. "Underneath is a heraldic figure from the oldest known Hradec
Králové coat of arms - a two-tailed crowned lion holding the initial G,"
the medal maker adds.
The Reverse side is then common to both the ducat and the
thaler, with a significant part of its area belonging to the names of the five
dowry towns of Eliška Rejčka.
In the centre is the symbol that is the unifying
element of the entire series of the Czech Mint - a shield with a profile of a
woman, above which is the well-known heraldic motif of the castle crown.
"The two pheasants in the lower part remind us of the typical product of
the Hradec Králové pheasantry and represent the source of income that the Queen
received from her dowry towns," concludes Michal Vitanovský, a history expert.
The Specifications of this Coin set are:
Issuer: Czech
mint
Designer of the Obverse: ak.
soch. Michal Vitanovský
Designer of the Reverse: ak.
soch. Michal Vitanovský
Numbered issue: No
Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Standard
Weight: 32.49 g
Packaging: Wooden
etui dark wood
Capsule: Yes
The mintage issue limit of the gold-silver set is only 200
pieces.
Date of Coins issue: March 2025
Links to some interesting Posts from the Czech Republic:
Medieval Queens - Dowry:
1) Eliska Rejcka, Czech Mint: A Set of Gold Ducat and Silver thaler: Dowry Towns of Bohemian Queens: Date/Year of Coins issue: 03/2025
Human Body Coin Series:
1) Human Body - Muscular System, Czech Mint: "Human Body Coin Series": First (1st) Coin in the Series: A Silver $1 (One Dollar) Coin issued by the Mint featuring the Muscular System - specially that of the Head: Date/Year of Coin issue: 12/2024 (with Year of issue pri nted as 2025
2) Human Body - Ocular System, Czech Mint: "Human Body Coin Series: : Second (2nd) Coin in the Series: A Silver $1 (One Dollar) Coin issued by the Mint featuring the Ocular System - specially that of the Eye: Date/Year of Coin issue: 03/2025
3) Human Body - Respiratory System, Czech Mint: "Human Body Coin Series": Third (3rd) Coin in the Series: A Silver $1 (One Dollar) Coin issued by the Mint festuring the Respiratory System - specifically the lungs: Date/Year of Coin issue: 05/2025
4) Human Body - Skeletal System, Czech Mint: "Human Body Coin Series": Fourth (4th) Coin in the Series: A Silver $1 (One Dollar) Coin issued by the Mint featuring the Skeletal System - specially - specifically the Knee: Date/Year of Coin issue: 08/2025
Cult of Personality Ducat/Coin Series:
1) Oskar Schindler, Czech Mint: "Cult of Personality Coin Series": Eleventh (11th) Coin in the Series: A Gold Ducat issued by the Mint featuring the well known figure: Date/Year of Ducat issue: 11/2024
2) Martin Luther King, Czech Mint: "Cult of Personality Coin Series": Third (3rd) Coin in the Series: A Gold Ducat issued by the Mint featuring the well known figure: Date/Year of Ducat issue: 10/2022
3) Che Guevara, Czech Mint: "Cult of Personality Coin Series": Sixth (6th) Coin in the Series: A Gold Ducat issued by the Mint featuring the well known figure: Date/Year of Ducat issue: 08/2023
4) Fidel Castro, Czech Mint:"Cult of Personality Coin Series": Ninth (9th) Coin in the Seris: A Gold Ducat issued by the Mint featuring the well known figure: Date/Year of Ducat issue: 04/2024
5) Karl Marx, Czech Mint: "Cult of Personality Coin Series": Second (2nd) Coin in the Series: A Gold Ducat issued by the Mint featuring the well known figure: Date/Year of Coin issue: 08/2022
6) Josif Stalin, Czech Mint: "Cult of Personality Coin Series": Fourth (4th) Coin in the Series: A Gold Ducat issued by the Mint featuring the well known figure: Date/Year of Ducat issue: 01/2023
7) Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, Czech Mint: "Cult of Personatity Coin Series": Eighth (8th) Coin in the Series: A Gold Ducat issued by the Mint featuring the well known figure: Date/Year of Ducat issue: 01/2024
8) Mother Teresa, Czech Mint: "Cult of Personality Coin Series": First (1st) Coin in the Series: A Gold Ducat issued by the Mint featuring the well known figure: Date/Year of Ducat issue: 08/2022
Famous Artists Coin Series:
1) Giacomo Puccini (22.12.1858-29.11.1924), Italian Composer known primarily for his operas, (Italy), Niue Island: "Famus Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well known Artist: Sate/Year of Coin issue: 11/2024
2) Giacomo Casanova, writer, spy, diplomat, businessman, schemer, soldier, gambler, violist, adventurer, seducer of women and sorceror, Niue Island: "fanous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well known artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 09/2022
3) Antoni Gaudi, Architect, Art Nouveau, Expressionism, Naturalism Orientalism, Neo-Gothicism and using Baroque inspirations developed his own naturalistic form of Art Nouveau, Niue Island: "Famous Artists Coin Series: zech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well-known Artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 06/2024
4) Franz Kafka, was among the most important figures of 20th Century literature, who published several short works, such as the short story "Metamorphosis" (origin ally titled "Promena"), The Trial and the Castle, Niue Island: "famous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well known artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 06/2024
5) Oscar Wilde, was an acclaimed poet. p-laywright, novelist and essayist - the author of sensitive verse, brilliant studies and unconventional tales - The Canterville Fear, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the comedy "How Important It Is to have Philip", Niue Island: "Famous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well known artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 09/2023
6) Ernest Hemingway, was an American writer who was famous for his minimalist style - concise, objective, free of all superfluous things, volunteer for Red Cross, took part in World War I and Spanish Civil War, Niue Island: "Famous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well kmnowsn Artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 07/2021
7) Vincent Van Gogh, a Dutch post-impressionist painter and draftsman who created 900 paintings and 1.100 drawings over the course of ten years at the end of the 19th century, Niue Island: "Famous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well known artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 07/2020
8) Leonardo da Vinci, an example of a Renaissancse Man - a truly Universal Genius - a naturalist, a musician, a writer, a cartographer, paintings and diaries full of various drawings, schemes, calculations, diagrams and ciphers, Niue Island: "Famous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well-known Artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 05/2019
9) Richard Wagner, conductor, poet, author of theoretical writings on music, opera reformer and representative of Romanticism in music, Niue Island: Famour Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued anGold Coin of $10 (Ten Dollars - NZD) featuring the well known artist: Dat/Year of Coin issue: 05/2013
10) Johann Wolfgang Goethe, writer, of world renown, a lawyer, legislsator and minister, a skilled painter, sculptor and road designer, porcelain and paint, Niue Island: "Famous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well-known artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 03/2022
11) Ludwig van Beethoven his work which is described as "forever contemporary" completed the perfectly formal epoch of Viennese classicism and at the same time foreshadowed the sensitive expression of romantic composers, Niue Island: 250th Anniversary of his Birth: "Famous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well known Artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 11/2020"
12) Gustav Klimt, scandalous, outrageous, but also tempting and compelling - such is the work of the painter, Nius Island: "Famous Aritsts Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well known Artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 02/2018
13) Antonin Dvorak, an unrivalled symphonist, creator of chamber music, conductor and professor who raised a whole generation of followers. He laid the foundstions of Czech cantata and oratorio music and his operas have become a treasure of national music and drama, Niue Island: "Famous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well-known artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 09/2021:
14) Edgar Allan Poe, the master of horror - Niue Island: "Famous Artists Coin Series": Czech Mint has issued a Gold Coin of $25 (Twenty Five Dollars - NZD) featuring the well known Artist: Date/Year of Coin issue: 10/2019
Czech TramCar - T3:
1) T3 Czech Tramcar produced by CKD Tatra, Cezka Republica (Czech Republic): Medals from CNB Coin - competitions 2024: Date/Year of Medals/Coins issue: 06/2024
The Most Beautiful Unrealised Designs - Czech Competitions:
1) Gregor Mendel - the Father of Genetics, Niue Island: 200th Anniversary of his Birth (1822-2022): Czech Mint has issued a Gold Medal featuring him:Date/Year of Coin issue: 07/2022
New Seven Wonders of the World:
1) The Roman Colosseum, Niue Island: The first $50 (Fifty Dollars - NZD) Gold Coin minted by the Czech Mint presents the Roman Colloseum: Date/Year of Coin issue: 10/2023
2) "Mayan City of Chichen Itza", Niue Island: Coin Series: "New seven wonders of the world": The second $50 (Fifty Dollars - NZD) Gold Coin minted by the Czech Mint presents the legendary monument: Date/Year of Coin issue: 01/2024
3) "Incan Seat of Machu Picchu in Peru" Niue Island: Coin Series: "New Seven Wonders of the World": The third $50 (Fifty Dollars - NZD) Gold Coin minted by the Czech Mint presents the legendary monument: Date/Year of Coin issue: 04/2024
4) "Jordanian Rock City of Petra"' Niue Island: Coin Series "New Seven Wonders of the World": The fourth $50 (Fifty Dollars - NZD) Gold Coin minted by the Czech Mint presents the legendary monument: Date/Year of Coin issue: 06/2024
5) "Brazilian statue of Christ the Saviour", Niue Island: Coin Series "New seven wonders of the world": The fifth $50 (Fifty Dollars - NZD) Gold Coin minted by the Czech Mint presents the legendary monument: Date/Year of Coin issue: 10/2024
1) "Mermaid", Niue Island: "Mythological Characters Coin DSeries": The Fourth (4th) Silver Coin in the Series: A $2 (Two Dollars - NZD) Coin minted by the Czech Mint depicting a Mermaid: Year of Coin issue: 10/2024
2) "Medusa", Niue Island: "Mythological Characters Coin Series": The Second (2nd) Silver Coin in the Series: A $2 (Two Dollars - NZD) Coin minted by the Czech Mint depicting Medusa: Year of Coin issue: 06/2024
4) The Dolmens of Pedro Gentil with artefacts from Svodin and Sturov: "Treasures od ancient civilisations": The VI (Sixth) Silver Coin in the Deriesd: Dzate/Year of Coin issue: 05/2024
5) The Egyptian Landmarks - the Pyramids of Giza and the statue of a seated scribe - appear in relief on this silver coin: "Treasures odf ancient civilisations": The III (Third) Silver Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 09/2023
6) Two prehistoric monuments - the Venus of Willendorf and the Lascaux cove paintings appear in the relief on this silver coin: 'Treasures of ancient civilisations": The V (Fifth) Silver Coin in the series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 02/2024
7) The relics of two Mediterranean Cultures - Minoan and Mycenaean appear in relief on this silver coin: "Treasures of Ancient Civilisatioms": The IV (Fourth) Silver Coin in the series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 11/2023
8) The landmarks of Ancient Rome appear in relief on this silver coin: "Treasures of ancient civilisations": The VIII (Eighth) Silver Coin in the series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 11/2024
Links to "The Coin Series - The Prehistoric World - The wondrous world of Mesozoic Lizards:
1) "Plesiosaurs", Niue Island: Coin minted by: The Czech Mint: "Coin Serkies - The prehistoric Worfld - The wondrous world of Mesozoic Lizards": Denomination: $1 (One Dollar - NZD): Eleventh Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 08/2024
2) "ARCHAEOPTERYX", Niue Island: Coin minted by the Czech Mint: "Coin Series - The prehistoric world": "The Wondrous world of Mesozoic Lizards": Denomination: $1 (One Dollar -NZD): Eighth Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 11/2023
3) "Brachiosaurus", Niue Island: Coin Minted by: The Czech Mint: Coin Series - The prehistoric World of Mesozoin Lizards": Denomination: $1 One Dollar - NZD): Ninth Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 04/2024
4) "Stegosaurus", Niue Island: Coin minted by: The Czech Mint: "Coin Series - The prehistoric world": "The wondrous world of Mesozoic Lizards": Denomination: $1 (One Dollar - NZD): Tenth Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 08/2024
5) "Tyrannosaurus", Niue Island: Coin minted by: The Czech Mint: "Coin Series - The Prehistoric World": "The Wondrous World of Mesozoic Lizards": Denomination: $ 1 (One Dollar - NZD): First Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 05/2022
6) "Triceratops", Niue Island: Coin minted By: The Czech Mint: "Coin Series - The prehistoric World": "The wondrous world of Mesozoic Lizards": Denomination: $1 (One Dollar - NZD): Second Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 06/2022
7) "Ankylosaurus", Niue Island: Coin minted by: The Czech Mint: "Coin Series - The prehistoric world": "The wonderful world of Mesozoic Lizards": Denomination: $1 (One Dollar - NZD): Third Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 07/2022
8) "Pachycephalosaurus", Niue Island: Coin minted by: The Czech Mint: "Coin Series - The prehistoric world": "The wondrous world of Mesozoin Lizards": Denomination: $1 (One Dollar - NZD): Fourth Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 09/2022
9) "Parasaurolophus", Niue Island: Coin minted by: The Czech Mint: "Coin Series - THe rehistoric world":"The wondrous world of Mesozoic Lizards: Denomination: $1 (One Dollar - NZD) Fifth Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 04/2023:
10) "Maiasaura", Niue Island: Coin Minted by: The Czech Mint: "Coin Series: "The prehistoric world": "The wondrous world of Mesozoic Lizards": Denomination: $1 (One Dollar - NZD) : Sixth Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 07/2023:
11) "Pteronadon", Niue Island: Coin minted by: The Czech Mint: "Coin Series - The prehistoric World": "The wondrous world of Mesozoic Lizards": Denomination: $1 (One Dollar - NZD): Seventh Coin in the Series: Date/Year of Coin issue: 08/2023
Links to Seven Wonders of the Ancient World:
Greek Mythology Coin Series:
Links to Signs of the Zodiac Coin Series issued by the Czech Mint posts:
For other interesting posts on Coins issued by the Slovakia National Bank, please visit the following links:
For other interesting posts on Coins issued by the Czech National Bank, please visit the following links:
Links to posts on "Dog Breeds":
Links to posts on JAWA Motorcycles on this blog:
1) "Jawa 250 Motorcycle", Czech Republic: "Great Czech Transportation Coin Series: Cesna Narodna Banka (Czech National Bank) has issued 500 Koruna Silver Coins, minted by the Ceska Mincovna featuring the stylish motorcycle: Date/Year of Coin issue: 06/2022
2) "On The Wheels", JAWA Motorcycles, Czech Mint: A set of four gold quater ounce JAWA proof coins issued by the Czech Mint: Date/Year of Coins issue: 10
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting post Thanks for sharing."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
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ReplyDeleteRajan Trikha has commented:
"Very informative."
Thank you Trikha sahab.
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