During a visit to Prague, its castle, and St. Vitus Cathedral, many will likely have walked through the famous Golden Lane, which immediately brings to mind the alchemists in the service of Rudolf II of Habsburg.

Although these “natural philosophers” did not actually reside on this street but rather a nearby one, and their experiments in metal transmutation fell short of achieving the results hoped for by the emperor, it is undeniable that Prague’s Bohemian mint produced a significant number of gold ducats over the centuries, as well as multiples of two, five, and ten ducats.

Kremnitz mint

Prestigious coins of this kind were also issued in the second half of the 20th century, when the Republic of Czechoslovakia minted various gold commemorative coins in denominations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 ducats. These were struck at the Slovak mint of Kremnitz, which had been active since medieval and Habsburg times alongside the Prague mint. In our Christmas Auction, you will find a remarkable collection up for bidding.

The ducat offered in lots 77 and 78 celebrates the peoples who belonged to the ancient empire of Great Moravia (Velká Morava), the first major state of the Western Slavs. This empire spanned the territories of present-day Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. The heart of this empire was located in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, specifically along the Morava River, from which its name was derived.

Christmas Auction, Lot 77, CECOSLOVACCHIA (1960 – 1989) Ducato – Grande Moravia, Kremnitz

In lots 79 and 80, the obverse of the ducat features the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Bohemia, surmounted by a helmet with a crown and crest. The reverse depicts a representation of the famous Karlštejn Castle, built in the mid-14th century by Emperor Henry IV of Luxembourg (1316–1378), who played a significant role in Bohemian history and will appear again later.

Christmas Auction, Lot 79, CECOSLOVACCHIA (1960 – 1989) Ducato – serie “Castelli”, Kremnitz 

In lot 81, housed within a wooden box, we find the rare “Waldstein” set, consisting of a 5-ducat and a 10-ducat gold coin, minted in 1972 to commemorate the 340th anniversary of the assassination of Prince Albrecht von Wallenstein.

Christmas Auction, Lot 81, CECOSLOVACCHIA (1960 – 1989) Serie di 2 monete da 5 e 10 Ducati 1972, Kremnitz

Noble by birth but of modest means, Wallenstein rose to the highest military and political ranks during the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648), serving Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg. He amassed vast estates for himself, for which he was titled Duke of Friedland. Wallenstein’s growing popularity and privileges increasingly alarmed the high nobility of the Empire, until he lost the emperor’s favor for the same reasons and was assassinated in a conspiracy.

The 2 and 4 ducat gold coins from 1972, offered in lot 82, feature the magnificent Cathedral of St. Barbara in Kutná Hora on the obverse, while the reverse depicts a minting scene. At the bottom, two coins are depicted: a goldgulden modeled after the Florentine florin on the left and a silver groschen on the right.

Christmas Auction, Lot 82, CECOSLOVACCHIA (1960 – 1989) Serie di 2 monete da 2 e 4 Ducati 1972 serie “Kutnà Hora”, Kremnitz

Kutná Hora, as explained by the legend on the reverse, was located in a region historically rich in silver mines. This silver was used to produce the famous Prague groschen, and in the Middle Ages, the city became the site of a mint.

The 2 and 4 ducat gold coins, minted in 1973 for lot 83 and in 1974 for lot 84, feature the Bohemian lion with St. Wenceslaus above on the obverse. The reverse depicts scenes of distinctive activities and sacred history of Bohemia.

Christmas Auction, Lot 83, CECOSLOVACCHIA (1960 – 1989) Serie di 2 monete da 2 e 4 Ducati 1973 serie “Prokop”, Kremnitz

Christmas Auction, Lot 84, CECOSLOVACCHIA (1960 – 1989) Serie di 2 monete da 2 e 4 Ducati 1974 serie “Prokop”, Kremnitz

Within a vertical square, we see at the top a miner holding an oil lamp as he emerges from a mine. Below, there is the legendary episode from the life of Saint Procopius of Sázava (975–1053), one of the patrons of Bohemia, in which the Benedictine monk is said to have bound the devil to a plow, forcing him to pull it.

The exceptionally rare set of four gold coins—1, 2, 5, and 10 ducats from 1971—featured in lot 85, celebrates the city of Kremnitz through its metal and design motifs.

Christmas Auction, Lot 85, CECOSLOVACCHIA (1960 – 1989) Serie di 4 monete da 1, 2, 5, 10 Ducati serie “Santa Elisabetta”, Kremnitz 

The city was established near a significant gold mine. In 1328, King Charles I of Hungary, referenced in the legend on the obverse, granted the city important privileges.

At that time, Kremnitz belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary, which is why the center of the obverse features Saint Elizabeth, Queen (1207–1231), while the shield on the left and the wheel on the right are emblems of the city.

The reverse depicts the mining activities of the region, whose last gold was extracted just a few years prior to the minting of these coins.

The “Millennium” set of 1, 3, and 5 gold ducats, presented in lot 86, was issued in 1973 to commemorate the millennium of the Christianization of Bohemia.

Christmas Auction, Lot 86, CECOSLOVACCHIA (1960 – 1989) Serie di 3 monete da 1, 3, 5 Ducati serie “Millenium”, Kremnitz

The 1, 3, and 5 gold ducat set in lot 87 concludes this magnificent collection with its most prestigious designs. The coins feature on the obverse the crown, scepter, and orb of St. Wenceslaus, commissioned by Charles IV.

Christmas Auction, Lot 87, CECOSLOVACCHIA (1960 – 1989) Serie di 3 monete da 1, 3, 5 Ducati serie “Thesaurus Sancti Venceslai”, Kremnitz

On the reverse, there is a detail of the door, featuring seven locks and a lion-head handle, which effectively secures the chamber in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague where the treasure is kept.

These magnificent coins, showcasing the historical, spiritual, and economic wealth of Bohemia, were issued in an extremely limited number. Their exceptional purity, with a gold content of 986 thousandths, further contributed to their rarity. Over the years, many of these pieces were melted down for their intrinsic value, significantly increasing their scarcity and making them highly sought after by collectors.

See also:

• Browse the catalogue of our Christmas Auction