Czech Mint’s series Look-out Towers is a logical and welcome follow-up to the previous successful edition Castles and Chateaus. Each historical landmark carries a unique story that the Czech nation loves to listen to. That’s why Czech Mint has prepared a series of 12 best-known observation towers and will be issuing the items in the next four years. Each issue will be available in three variants: gold one-ounce, gold quarter-ounce and silver one-ounce.

Czech Mint invited some best Czech graphic artists to collaborate in designing the medals: Jan Hásek, Luboš Charvát and Josef Oplištil. The Look-out tower Štěpánka has won the honorary first place in the issue with an imaginative design created by the first listed artist, Mgr. A. Jan Hásek. The gold quarter-ounce commemorative medal Look-out tower Štěpánka represents not just an undisputed investment value, but also a unique artistic design. The combination of gold and art is the most practical path to a lasting appreciation of your money.

The Look-out tower Štěpánka is perched on the Hvězda hill amidst the Příšovice range. It boasts the title of the oldest look-out tower in the Jizera Mountains. This stone Neo-Gothic structure is named after Archduke Štěpán, who stayed in the region to oversee the construction of the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše) road. Construction of the Štěpánka tower began in 1847, but soon it was halted and it had not been completed until 1892 when an octagonal tower made of brick and sandstone was added to the structure. The ruins of a stone war cross are reminiscent of a later period of our history; it reportedly symbolizes a place for the local Nazis during World War II. From the height of 24 metres, Štěpánka offers a breath-taking view of the western part of Giant Mountains, the Desná and Kamenice valley, picturesque chalets scattered among the hills, and the Souš dam and Jizera mountain in the background.

The obverse side of the gold quarter-ounce commemorative medal is decorated with a detailed relief of the Štěpánka tower, along with the year of its completion, 1892, and the altitude of 958 m above sea level. The reverse side offers a view of the Hvězda hill and Kořenov village nested just between the Giant Mountains and the Jizera Mountains. The gold quarter-ounce commemorative medal Look-out tower Štěpánka is issued in a limited edition of 500 pieces. Add to your collection another excellent and valuable piece of Czech history.