Gold coin 1/10 oz Czech lion Niue 2023 BU 5NZD NIUE .9999Au

Gold coin 1/10 oz Czech lion Niue 2023 BU 5NZD NIUE .9999Au

World investment coins tend to be dedicated to strong national symbols, and the "Czech Lion", which is the first mintage of its kind intended for the Czech market, is no exception. 

The most famous story about how the exotic lion became a symbol of the Czech country is the legend about Bruncvík - a mythical prince who traveled to far Africa, where he helped the king of animals in a fight with a hot sledge. A more plausible explanation is offered by the old chroniclers. According to them, in 1158 Emperor Frederick I. Barbarossa rewarded Prince Vladislav II. royal crown and a new heraldic animal that replaced the previous eagle. The lion represented the virtues of a knight, the strength and courage that Vladislav demonstrated in conquering the city of Milan in the emperor's service. And how did the heraldic beast get its second tail? Again, heroism played a role in this. In 1204, King Přemysl Otakar I helped Emperor Otto IV. in the fight against the Saxons, and for this the Bohemian lion received a second tail, which distinguished it from the beasts of other nations and gave it unique prestige. However, medieval writers liked to add color to their narratives and are not a reliable source of information. Therefore, only one thing is certain - the first truly documented Czech lion was the symbol of the Přemysl dynasty and appears on the equestrian seal of Vladislav Jindřich from 1203. It was Přemysl Otakar II, the iron and gold king, who made the lion the symbol of the entire country.

In 2023, all variants of the investment coin received a new jacket, but the main idea remained. The reverse side is dominated by a Czech lion in an unconventionally realistic rendering with the crown of St. Wenceslas on its head. The obverse side then presents an eagle, which is a synthesis of the St. Wenceslas, Moravian and Silesian raptors. The author of the relief is the traditional medalist Asamat Baltaev, DiS. Since the coins of the Czech Mint are issued under the license of a foreign issuer, which is the island of Niue, their obverse side bears its necessary attributes – the name and portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the nominal value of 5 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2023.