2018 - 5000 Crowns Zvíkov Castle - Proof

On 29 May 2018 the Czech National Bank is putting into circulation the fifth gold coin from the Castles cycle. It features Zvíkov Castle. The coin is minted from 999.9 purity gold and is issued in two versions, normal quality and proof quality, which differ in surface treatment and edge marking. Proof-quality coins have a highly polished field, a matt relief and a plain edge. Normal quality coins have milled edges. The coin is 28 mm in diameter, weighs 15.55 g and is 1.9 mm thick. Deviations in diameter of 0.1 mm and thickness of 0.15 mm are allowed. Upward deviations in weight of 0.062 g and in gold content of 0.01% are permitted.

The face side of the coin is dominated by a fragment of the Lamentation of Christ wood-carving on the altar in the St Wenceslas Chapel at Zvíkov Castle. A composition of heraldic animals from the large national coat-of-arms of the Czech Republic located in shields can be found in the upper part of the coin field. The mark of the Czech Mint, in the form of the letters “Č” and “M”, is located near the lower edge of the coin. The upper part of the obverse side features a composition of two early Gothic glazed tiles depicting a griffin and a hunting scene. A shield depicting a swan motif, as used by the lords of Švamberk, is situated between the tiles. A collage of four castle buildings is located in the middle of the coin field (from left to right: the Hlízová Tower, the Písecká Gate, the Hláska Tower and the St Wenceslas Chapel). The text “HRAD” is located to the left and the text “ZVÍKOV” to the right of the composition. The year of mintage “2018” is inscribed below the Písecká Gate. The initials of the designer of the coin, Luboš Charvát – made up of the interlinked letters “L” and “Ch” – are located below the year of mintage.

Each coin comes with a red catalogue card containing a description and the relief of the coin (source: CNB).