Since 2017, the Czech Lion had been designed by Asamat Baltaev, but in 2025 he took on this task for the last time. Customers often asked us who would be designing the investment coins in future. Now they know it is you, and their expectations are certainly very high. Do you view this work as just another commission, or as something more?

For me, it’s a significant, incredibly interesting project, and I’ve devoted particular care to it. Not everyone is lucky enough to be involved in something like this. The Lion is a prominent theme in Czech numismatics, and for me it’s both a great challenge and a joy.

Does designing an internationally renowned coin make you nervous?

I don’t get stage fright, but it is a responsibility – to ensure the work is simply well done. So rather than stage fright, it’s a sense of responsibility.

You’re a teacher at the medal-making school – the Higher Vocational School in Jablonec nad Nisou – where, amongst others, Asamat Baltaev also studied. How does a teacher feel about taking over a project from one of his own students? Usually it’s the other way round…

It’s interesting, but sometimes it’s simply time for a change, and I fully understand that Asamat needs a break. He’s devoted himself to it wholeheartedly for years and is feeling the strain. But I believe it’s just a break. He’s young and full of vigour, and perhaps he’ll return to it.

Did you research all the previous years’ designs whilst preparing your design for 2026? Was it difficult not to repeat what had already been used? After all, there’s a limited number of poses and angles from which to depict the king of the beasts…

Of course, I took a good look at the whole series and studied it thoroughly. Although Asamat and I share a somewhat similar background, having attended the same school, it wasn’t difficult to avoid repeating anything. We’re both different, and we each approach the design in our own way. The possibilities for depicting a lion are endless – it’s up to the artist how they sculpt the subject and what they make of it.

Where did you look for inspiration? More in nature, or in culture? At the zoo, or in heraldry?

A bit of everything. Heraldry is based on nature, so a good knowledge of nature is a prerequisite. But a medal maker isn’t a photographer, so what follows is an artistic interpretation, taking heraldry into account. I looked at every possible depiction of a lion – from the beautiful Egyptian ones, through antiquity, right up to Myslbek and Harcuba.

The Czech lion has been a symbol of strength and courage since time immemorial, and thanks to investment coins, it has also become a symbol of wealth and prosperity. What does it mean to you? What emotions does it evoke in you?

With the lion, which for me is above all a symbol of the Czech lands, I am returning to a subject I am very fond of. I created a medal featuring a lion’s head as part of my school-leaving project. And when you start studying at our Higher Vocational School, the very first assignment you are given is to create your own interpretation of the Czech national coat of arms. I think the lion is a wonderful subject for a medal maker to explore for many years to come…

2025

How did you get to work on coins and medals?

When I was a child, I was fascinated by medals, when I watched my dad at work. Then I studied SUPŠ in Jablonec nad Nisou and then VOŠ, so this work was a natural artistic path for me.

Do you remember your first implementation of work for the Czech Mint?

It was a commemorative medal BEIJING 2008 for the Czech Olympic Committee in 2008.

Can you count how many coin and medal designs you have made in your career?

30 double-sided medals or coins were issued according to my designs and proposals. Of this number, 10 of those commemorative coins will be issued by the CNB this year. However, even more designs and proposals have been created, as I regularly contact CNB competitions and there is a lot of rivals.

Which commissioned work from the Czech Mint pleased you the most, which one do you remember the most?

I was very pleased to work on the set of medals dediated to Václav Havel - playwright, dissident, president - and I am very satisfied with its realization in metal. I have always respected this personality, so I really enjoyed that work. However, I also enjoyed working on the medal for climber Radek Jaroš. It had been adventurous before we came up with a final solution.

Which theme is closest to you?

I like portraits. I enjoy trying to capture the character of the personality, if possible a little differently, each time a different modeling, a different composition. I am pleased with the victory of the competition for the 200 CZK coin of Josef Kainar - I tried to deal with the portrait differently and it was worth it.

Where do you draw inspiration for your work from, where do you like to work?

I draw designs and create models at home in the living room. But first I think about the theme so that I can capture it in the best way. I often sort ideas before falling asleep. After that I use paper, pencil, plasticine and plaster…

Do you have a secret desire, something you would like to achieve and what you would call the height of a medal maker's career?

I would like to continue working for the Czech Mint due to its top technical implementation of my designs. And also because I have friendly relations with many of the people who work for it, it is a very pleasant cooperation. I would also like to succeed in the CNB competition from time to time. And an immodest secret dream? Now it will no longer be secret, but perhaps it will be the authorship of some Czech circulation coins one day.

2016