Slovakia kicks off its 2018 numismatic program with a celebration of 25 years of existence as a state

Slovakia is launching its 2018 numismatic coin programme with the debut of a one-ounce fine-silver coin celebrating 25 years since Czechoslovakia split into two seperate states in what is seen as a textbook example of how to do it correctly. The fall of the Iron Curtain caused much upheaval in the former Warsaw Pact countries, but Czechoslovakia avoided the destructive path that engulfed Yugoslavia.

The coin is an interesting piece with soome clever design elements incorporated into it that you can read more about below. It’s available in two finishes – proof and uncirculated – with the former having a higher mintage, strangely enough. The edge of the coin has “relief elements of ‘Čičmany village’ ornamentation”, but we’ve sen no image of it yet so can’t comment on what that looks like or the exact form it takes. Struck at the Kremnica Mint, the coin should be available to order now. Slovakia will issue a further six silver and one gold coin as 2018 progresses.

MINTS DESCRIPTION: The Velvet Revolution of November 1989 ended Communist rule in Czechoslovakia and opened the way to socio-economic reforms. It also produced a federal constitutional arrangement which, owing to political differences between the leaderships of its Czech and Slovak parts, resulted in an agreement to partition the country into two separate republics. The establishment of an independent Slovak Republic on 1 January 1993 marked the culmination of efforts to establish a modern Slovak nation and the fulfilment of national emancipation. The new republic joined the community of independent democratic states and affirmed its intention to develop cooperation with them. In the year it was established, the Slovak Republic joined the United Nations and the Council of Europe and it signed a European Association Agreement with the European Communities. Since then, the country has joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2000), the European Union (2004) and the euro area (2009). The Slovak Republic is currently one of Europe’s most rapidly developing countries.

OBVERSE: depicts the Czechoslovak flag transforming into the Slovak flag in a U-shape composition, symbolising the establishment of the Slovak Republic. Above the Slovak flag is an image of Bratislava castle. Two symbols of Czechoslovakia are depicted in the lower part of the design, linking the ends of the two flags: Charles Bridge in Prague and Kriváň Peak in Slovakia’s High Tatra Mountains. The coin’s denomination and currency ’25 EURO’ appear in two lines between the vertical flags. At the lower right side, in semi-circle, is the name of the issuing country ‘SLOVENSKO’ and the year of issuance ‘2018’.

REVERSE:  the design symbolises Slovakia’s entry into the European Union and euro area by showing a stylised portal arching over both a map of Slovakia and a euro symbol surrounded by EU stars (some covered by the map). From the left edge to the bottom, in semi-circle, is the inscription 25 ROKOV SLOVENSKEJ REPUBLIKY (25 YEARS OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC). The date of the country’s establishment ‘1. 1. 1993’ appears below the map of Slovakia. Above the date are the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremnica), consisting of the initials ‘MK’ and the stylised letters ‘PK’, the initials of the coin’s designer, Pavel Károly.