Gold coin First Stamp of Czechoslovakia - proof

When Czechoslovakia was founded in 1918, it needed not only new coins and banknotes but also a postage stamps. Their origin commemorates another issue from the free cycle of half gram gold coins of the Czech Mint deposited in replicas of postcards.

The colorful postcard with the Czech text of the so-called small format, published by MR Praha and was not sent, reflects the patriotic enthusiasm of the new statehood at the end of 1918. It is dominated by the Prague Castle with its picturesque little Malá Strana. Our first postage stamp valued at 10 hellers, which was in circulation since 18 December 1918 (just two months after the Republic was founded), is symbolically illustrated in the atmosphere of the time, printed on the reverse of the postcard replica. The author of the stamp is the world-famous artist Alfons Mucha. A painter, who until then had no experience with the production of postal stamps, was very conscious of the job. He had a strong Slavic and national feeling. For the stamp he chose the elegant symbol of the new dawn of the nation - the theme of Hradčany, which illuminates the rising sun. The central motif was framed by the characteristic Art Nouveau ornaments and supplemented by the text of the POŠTA ČESKO-SLOVENSKÁ. The stamps were available in different color resolution (10 hellers was red) and initially only cut.

The relief of the coin, which is the work of the talented medalist Ludmila Kodytková, DiS., continues the work of Alfons Mucha - also presents an Art Nouveau frame with lime branches and Hradčany, but the Prague panorama extends the view of the St. Nicholas Church. The composition of the reverse is complemented by the inscription PRVNÍ ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ ZNÁMKA.. The reverse side also belongs to the island of Niue, an issuer that licenses the Czech Mint to issue its own commemorative coins. They are the name and profile of Emperor Elizabeth II, the year 2018 and the nominal value of 5 DOLLARS (NZD).

The original issue will please the numismatics and philocartists.