Gold half-ounce medal Construction of Bohemia B-5 proof

Gold half-ounce medal Construction of Bohemia B-5 proof

Stock state
Sold out
Date of issue
April 2019
Mintage
99 pcs

The product can also be purchased directly in the stores of the Czech Mint

Product description

The first aircraft of Czechoslovakia took off for the first time in 1919 - just 100 years ago. Therefore, the Czech Mint introduced the half-ounce gold medal which is part of the free cycle of the most beautiful unrealized designs submitted for competitions of the Czech National Bank to commemorate the groundbreaking Bohemia B-5.

"We have neither transatlantic ports nor ships - the air is our sea," Jan Bervida, propagator of Czechoslovak aviation, said. That idea was shared by many of his compatriots. The famous aviator Jan Kašpar attempted to build his own aircraft in the Czech lands at the beginning of the 20th century. Not one, but four airplanes were created by an Bohemian club before the World War I. The fifth machine of the Pilsen association became the first Czechoslovak airplane in 1919. The engineer Oldrich Haller constructed a small two-seat biplane with a two-leaf wooden propeller, an open cab, a linen cloth and a B-5 designation. Almost everything was used with typical czech ingenuity in order to construct the airplane. Its construction was based on the components of decommissioned Austrian or German machines and a number of building components were provided by supporters of aviation from Pilsen. Haller managed to improve the engine of brothers Wright's groundbreaking airplanes so much that its performance increased by 20% to 40 horses. The Bohemia B-5 had experienced ups and downs. It welcomed President Masaryk and it had a tragic accident. Fortunately, it has not been lost in history and we can still admire it in the National Technical Museum. Although the first Czechoslovak airplane was made by a group of enthusiasts, the first real aircraft factories were established in Prague at the same time and the aviation became a showcase of the young republic ...

The proposal design of the mintage was made by the medal maker and teacher Luboš Charvat, who won the second place in the competition of the Czech National Bank for the "perfect depiction of the airplane's take-off from the airport with the hangar in the background ". The reverse side of the medal then presents a trio of views of the Bohemia B-5 - from top, front and from the side.

The schedule of issuance counts only 99 pieces. Each medal is manually numbered on the edge and accompanied by an illustrated certificate of authenticity that tells the story of the first Czechoslovak airplane.

Specifications

Code
31448-631
Issuer
Czech mint
Author of the obverse
Luboš Charvát
Author of the reverse
Luboš Charvát
Numbered issue
Yes
Certificate
Yes
Material
Gold
Fineness
999,9 / 1000
Weight
15.56 g
Diameter
28 mm
Packaging
Burgundy leather case
Capsule
Yes
Czech Mint
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