Gold Coin Patrons - St Florian proof

The Czech Mint issued the first gold mini-coin in its Patron Saints series in 2018. This lucky charm was dedicated to Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters, and the entire series sold out quickly. Therefore, a reissue of the coin with a new motif will be released in 2026.

At the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, the Roman province of Noricum stretched across what is now Austria, where a soldier named Florian commanded a unit of legionnaires – elite firefighters. This was during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, a fierce persecutor of Christians, the faith to which Florian belonged. He secretly worshipped his God and obediently carried out the orders of his pagan masters, but when he had the opportunity to help his imprisoned fellow believers, he fearlessly stood up in their support. Despite his blameless life and meritorious service, the cruel Romans handed him over to the executioners. They whipped him and tore his flesh with pincers, but Florian did not renounce his faith and was therefore sentenced to death. He was to be burned at the stake, but because he rejoiced that his ashes and smoke would rise up to God, his tormentors tied a millstone around his neck and threw him into the Enns River... After his death, the martyr became the patron saint of professions related to fire – firefighters, blacksmiths, chimney sweeps, bakers, potters, and many others. Statues of him were built to protect against fires, droughts, and crop failures, but also floods. It is said that the vessel Florian holds in his hand contains not only water to extinguish fires, but also love to extinguish human hatred, aridity, and evil...

The coin dedicated to Saint Florian was designed by medallist ŠtěpánkaDoležalová. The reverse side features a characteristic depiction of the patron saint in the uniform of an ancient soldier with a flag bearing a cross and a vessel from which he pours water. The Czech-English inscription gives the saint's name: SV. FLORIÁN – ST. FLORIAN. The obverse side features the attributes of the island of Niue, the issuer that provides the Czech Mint with a foreign license to mint its own commemorative coins. These include the name and portrait of King Charles III, the year of issue 2026, and the nominal value of 2 DOLLARS (NZD).

The gold coin, weighing half a gram, is set in special Czech-English packaging. It serves as an affordable gift and an original addition to any collection.