2020 - Niue 1 NZD Silver Coin On Wheels - Tatra 111 - proof

On Wheels

The first truck produced in Kopřivnice was introduced in the first year of the collector's cycle “On Wheels”. The Czech Mint dedicated the silver coin to the most famous Tatra 111 the second year.

Although Kopřivnice was a Czech town, the local Tatra car factory got into the hands of Nazi Germany after the Munich Agreement in 1938 and therefore it was immediately made a part of its military machinery. The German army ordered the production of a lorry that would be made of non-deficit raw materials that could handle bad roads, and whose engine would be air-cooled. Water cooling was the main issue on the Russian plains, where the water was frozen due to lack of antifreeze, and in African deserts, where even the thirsty soldiers did not get water. Tatra 111 was introduced in 1942. It could not be compared to anything that had been created in Kopřivnice or in the world before. The “111” fulfilled all requirements of the client. Its construction was made of ordinary steel and almost no non-ferrous metals. The cabin was made of fibreboard and chipboard. The air-cooled diesel engine was the first of its kind in the world. They used the so-called "Tatra concept" - a unique type of automobile frame with the independent suspension system. All swivel half-axles ensured very good throughput in terrain. All six wheels were driven and the front drive was switchable. Although Tatra 111 was established for military purposes, it became a symbol of the reconstruction and building of Czechoslovakia after the war. The versatile car also attracted attention abroad. It served in Africa and South America, but the Soviet Union became its main foreign customer. The Tatra 111 was able to fully demonstrate its quality in a large country without high-quality roads. Its engine used to run day and night in frosts around -40 ° C. The 60-tonne trailer with two trailers often overcame long-distance up to 2,000 kilometers. The 111 was the only one of trucks of various brands to bring food to Siberia, saving people from starvation under extreme climatic conditions. No wonder that grateful people built a monument to the indomitable truck…

The reverse side of the coin was processed by the medal maker MgA. Martin Dašek and it is dominated by the depiction of Tatra 111 in the form of a dump truck. Moreover, it bears the detail of one of the six wheels. The perimeter of the obverse side is formed by the wheels of various means of transport. Since the Czech Mint's coins are issued with the license of a foreign issuer, the island of Niue, the obverse side bears its necessary attributes - the portrait and the name of Queen Elizabeth II, the nominal value of 1 DOLLAR (NZD) and the year of the issue 2020.

The coin is issued with the official authorisation of Tatra car factory. It is stored in an spectacular packaging in the form of a concertina book containing accompanying text and period photographs.