Set of gold ducat Přemysl Otakar II and silver restrike of bracteate stand

This set from the Czech Mint, which pays tribute to Ottokar II, includes a newly minted historical bracteate and a commemorative medal.

Ottokar II was an exceptionally capable politician and warrior. At the height of his glory as the fifth Czech king of the Přemyslid dynasty, he ruled over the Czech and Austrian lands, Styria, Carinthia, and Carniola. The ruler of this vast confederation, which extended all the way to the Adriatic coast, was considered the most powerful man in Central Europe, so it is no wonder that his contemporaries bestowed upon him the admiring title “the Iron and Golden King”. While the first part of the epithet, earned for him by heavily armored knights, symbolized the king’s strength, the second epithet expressed his wealth, which came from the silver mines in the Jihlava region. The king’s coins inspired confidence in people both at home and abroad - unlike the heavily debased denarii, in which the silver content was deliberately reduced, these were truly pure. Today they are called bracteates - from the Latin word bractea, meaning “small plate.” These coins were, in fact, very thin and one-sided. Their reliefs featured various scenes - the crowned head of the monarch, architectural, mythological, or animal motifs. It was on the bracteates of Přemysl Otakar II that the two-tailed lion first appeared in history. The Czech king made good use of his wealth. Not only to build a feared iron cavalry, but also to found royal towns, castles, and monasteries - České Budějovice, Most, Bezděz, Špilberk, Zlatá Koruna, and many others…

A faithful new minting of Ottokar II’s bracteate was created by academic sculptor Michal Vitanovský. To resemble the historical original as closely as possible, the coin replica is struck in silver using the incuse technique - on one side, the relief protrudes from the surface, while on the other, it is recessed into it. Michal Vitanovský also created a thematic commemorative medal - a gold ducat depicting Ottokar II on the throne and his royal regalia. “In 2026, an extraordinary opportunity arose - to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the unexpected discovery of the funerary insignia of Ottokar II. The discovery of the funerary crown, in particular, was an extraordinary enrichment of Czech history. It is, in fact, our oldest royal crown,” explains the author, who is a lover and expert on Czech history.

The mintage consists of only 100 complete sets.