Set of two thalers Royal couples - Vratislav II and Svatava Polská proof
Set of two thalers Royal couples - Vratislav II and Svatava Polská proof
The product can also be purchased directly in the stores of the Czech Mint
Royal couples
The Czech Mint dedicated a set of two silver thalers from the Royal couples cycle to the fourth historical couple Vratislav II. and Svatava Polská.
The Přemyslid prince Vratislav II. became the first Czech king Vratislav I in 1805. This non-hereditary title was a reward for his loyalty to the Roman Emperor Henry IV. During the coronation in the Prague Basilica of St. Vitus, the crown also rested on the head of the first Czech Queen, Svatava of Poland. The daughter of a Polish prince from the famous Piast dynasty was Vratislav's third wife. They were married more than twenty years at the time of the coronation, but they did not have much time left. In 1092, the king died of injuries sustained by a fall from a horse, and a power struggle broke out among the heirs to the throne. Three of Wrocław's and Svatava's sons - Bořivoj, Vladislav and Soběslav - became princes, but none of them repeated their father's success and became king. The widowed Queen did everything in her power to reconcile the relatives. Sometimes she succeeded, other times she did not, but even thanks to her, the Přemyslid dynasty survived a difficult period of power instability. She spent the rest of her days in Vyšehrad, where she took care of the Vyšehrad Chapter and the poor people in need.
The academic sculptor Michal Vitanovský was inspired by period denarii and a historical fresco from the Znojmo rotunda when creating the reverse side of the king's thaler, which presents Vratislav with a crown, scepter, flag and shield of the Norman type. The reverse side of the Queen's thaler is dedicated to her peace efforts - Svatava keeps figures with menacing swords drawn apart. The obverse side, which is common to both thalers, then bears a double portrait of the royal couple. "The historical depiction of Queen Svatava has not been preserved, and the only clue is the considerable age difference between the husband and wife. Regarding life dates, only the dates of death are certain, " the medal maker explains.
The thalers are stored in an elegant wooden box with a lid decorated with an engraving of chess pieces that symbolize the king and queen. In the box there is an illustrated certificate of authenticity with the author's accompanying word.