The Czech Mint pays tribute to Vincent van Gogh by issuance of the half-ounce gold coin which is part of a free cycle dedicated to important personalities of world history in 2020.

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter and draftsman who created 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings over the course of ten years at the end of the 19th century. He had failed to succeed during his life and his work had been almost unknown, but after his death he became one of the greatest personalities in world art. His patron Theo van Gogh, who worked as a painting merchant and supported the painters, was the only person who believed in him steadfastly. Thanks to him, the names van Gogh, Monet and Gauguin became famous. The deep friendship between the two siblings was evidenced by hundreds of personal letters that were preserved to this day. In addition to his exceptional talent, Vincent van Gogh's soul, shrouded in mystery and madness, also contributed to his extraordinary popularity. The painter suffered from a mental disorder - perhaps congenital, perhaps caused by drinking absinthe, perhaps caused by poisonous colors. What is more, Vincent cut off his ear when arguing with his colleague and friend Paul Gauguin. Although he had tried to solve his problems, his depression continued to deepen until he finally commited a suicide. Theo, unable to accept his brother's death, died six months later…

The coin was processed by the medal maker MgA. Martin Dašek. While the reverse side is dominated by one of Vincent Van Gogh's iconic self-portraits, the obverse side presents the painter's penultimate painting called Ravens over a Cornfield. The painting expresses the artist's torn soul - shortly after the author created it, he shot himself in a similar field and died two days later in the arms of his beloved brother. As the license for the issuance of commemorative coins of the Czech Mint is granted by the Pacific island of Niue, the obverse side also bears its necessary elements - the name and portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the nominal value of 25 DOLLARS (NZD) and the year of issue 2020.

The coin, which comes in a limited schedule of issuance of 200 pieces, includes a pictorial certificate of authenticity.