Gold quarter-ounce medal Look-out tower Babylon proof

Lookout towers are an architectural rarity typical for central Europe where they had been built thanks to the more than one hundred years long tradition of tourism and rugged landscape.  And Czech lookout towers certainly rank among the most beautiful ones. To the most spectacular of them Czech Mint dedicated its own collector series, in which it presents three lookout towers every year. The last medal struck in 2014 depicts Babylon.

Babylon is one of the oldest lookout towers in Moravia. It was erected on Zelený vrch (the Green Hill) – 491m above sea level. The stone tower in the Empire style was built in 1831 by count Jindřich Vilém Haugwitz, the owner of the Náměšť manor. The 24.5m high lookout tower has a square base, while higher stories are octahedral.

The medals in the series were designed by Jan Hásek, Luboš Charvát and Josef Oplištil. Babylon is the work of experienced artist Josef Oplištil. The obverse is dominated by the tower with a compass rose in the background. On the reverse the author placed a map of the Kramolín village where Babylon is situated, and the compass needle.

After completion the Lookout Towers series will have twelve gold quarter-ounce medals, each in a limited edition of 500 pieces. A luxurious wooden case was prepared especially for the set.