Gold restrike coin Franz Joseph I - Victory crown stand

A miniature gold restrike of a historical crown coin from a free series dedicated to Franz Joseph I commemorates the beginning and supposed end of World War I.

The shots fired on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo did not only end the lives of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Franz Ferdinand d'Este, and his wife, Sophie Chotek. In fact, between 1914 and 1918, millions of lives were lost because the assassination led to a chain reaction that resulted in a global conflict of unimaginable proportions. World War I, then known as the Great War, marked the end of the Belle Époque – the carefree "beautiful times" – and with it the end of Austria-Hungary. At first, however, it did not seem that way. Based on the initial Austro-Hungarian military successes, a coin with a face value of one crown was proposed in 1914 to serve as a reminder of the anticipated victory. However, triumph did not come. Due to defeat and the subsequent collapse of the empire, only a trial minting remained, which then became a sought-after collector's item. "Due to its trial nature, this coin is often defined as a medal in numismatic circles. The number of coins minted is unknown," explains Martin Furugláš, collector and expert consultant for this issue.

The reverse side of the Czech Mint's miniature gold restrike depicts a hero fighting a snake. The composition is completed by the nominal value of 1 KRONE, the year 1914, and the inscription PROBE – meaning trial – which reveals that this was a trial minting. The obverse side of the coin bears a portrait of Franz Joseph I. The faithful restrike, based on the original work by German medallist Karl Goetz, was created by Czech medallist Mgr. Petr Horák.

The coin is set in a numbered replica of a historical postcard, which is a greeting from Vienna – from the imperial residence of the Hofburg.