Old Picture Postcards

Another gold mini coin of the Czech Mint set in a replica of a historical postcard with a Slovak motif commemorates Levoča.

When the Tatars ravaged the Slavic settlements in eastern Slovakia in the 13th century, it was a disaster for the remote region. The King of Hungary, however, wisely invited colonists from Saxony, who repopulated the area. Thus Levoca was founded and became a free royal city with many privileges. The most important was the right of warehouse granted in 1321. This privilege obliged merchants passing through the town to stay and sell their goods for several days. The inhabitants and visitors of Levoča could thus choose from a wide range of goods and merchants had to use local services - from inns to warehouses to watchtowers. Thanks to its wealth, the town flourished and became a centre of the Renaissance and humanism. Numerous artistic gems were created during this period, such as the breathtaking wooden altar by Master Paul of Levoča, which is the highest of its kind in the world. However, this era of promising development soon came to an end. Fire, epidemics, a protracted war with the rival town of Kežmarok, the anti-Habsburg uprising - all contributed to the gradual decline of the town. Nevertheless, Levoča remained the centre of Spiš and in the 19th century became the heart of the Slovak national revival. The historical postcard from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, which served as a template for the coin packaging, presents not only the centre of Levoča, which is listed on the UNESCO list, but also the legend of the local White Lady.

The reverse side of the coin, which is the work of the medal maker Jan Štekel, presents the historical town hall in Levoca with the Church of St. Jacob. The composition is completed by the inscription LEVOČA. As the coin of the Czech Mint is issued with the licence of a foreign issuer, which is the island of Niue, the obverse side bears its necessary attributes - the name and portrait of King Charles III, the nominal value of 2 DOLLARS (NZD), and the year of issue 2024.

This issue will delight numismatists and philocartographers alike, and is an original and affordable collector's piece as well as an attractive regional gift.