Czech Lion 2022 Five Coin Silver Set, Coin Set from Niue - detailed information

The world's bullion coins tend to be dedicated to strong national symbols and the Czech Lion, the first coin of its kind to be minted for the Czech market, is no exception. The complete set of five silver coins of the Czech Mint with the year 2022 consists of the following weights - 1, 2, 5 and 10 troy ounces and 1 kg.

The best-known story of how the exotic lion became the symbol of the Czech country is the tale of Bruncvík - a mythical prince who travelled as far as Africa to help the king of the beasts in his battle with the sleigh. A more plausible explanation is offered by the old chroniclers. According to them, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa rewarded Prince Vladislaus II with a royal crown and a new crest animal, which replaced the existing eagle in 1158. The lion represented the virtues of chivalry, strength and courage that Vladislav had shown during his conquest of 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 1204, King Ottokar I helped Emperor Otto IV in his fight against the Saxons, and that is why the Bohemian lion was given a second tail, which distinguished it from the beasts of other nations and gave it a unique prestige. However, medieval authors liked to colour their narrations and are not a reliable source of information. Therefore, one thing is certain - the first truly documented Bohemian lion was a symbol of the Přemyslid dynasty and appears on the equestrian seal of Vladislaus Henry from 1203. The lion was elevated to the emblem of the whole country by Ottokar II, the Iron and Gold King.

All variants of the bullion coin were reworked in 2022, but the main idea remained the same. The reverse side is dominated by the Czech lion in an unusually realistic rendition with the St. Wenceslas crown on its head. The obverse side presents the eagle, which is a synthesis of the St. Wenceslas, Moravian and Silesian birds of prey. The author of the relief is traditionally the medal maker Asamat Baltaev, DiS. As the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with the licence 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 values of 2, 5, 10, 25 and 80 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2022.