Silver coin On Wheels - Motor vehicle Velorex proof

Silver coin On Wheels - Motor vehicle Velorex proof

Stock state
Sold out
Date of issue
2023
Mintage
1500 pcs

The product can also be purchased directly in the stores of the Czech Mint

A discount voucher cannot be applied to the product.

Crystal Coin

The Velorex 16/350 tricycle created as a simple and affordable means of transport combining the advantages of a motorcycle and a car has literally become a cult. The seventeenth silver coin of the Czech Mint from the On Wheels series pays tribute to it.

In the 1940s, the brothers František and Mojmír Stránský began working on a project for a simple vehicle that, unlike a motorcycle, would protect the crew from the weather fluctuations. The prototype of a motorised tricycle with a covered cab was made, for example, from bicycle parts that František repaired in his trade. The metal body made a lot of noise, which the designers did not like, so they came up with a novel solution - they covered the tubular frame with PVC leather. In the difficult post-war years, it was not possible to get permission for production, but the whole project was saved by the idea of marking the car as a means of transport for disabled people. The tricycle was given the name Oskar, which was an abbreviation of czech phrase „kára na ose“ translated as "cart on an axle", and entered series productionwith great success in 1951. The name Velorex - Latin for "king of wheels" - did not appear until 1954. The year 1963 was a turning point, with a major modernisation in the form of a new engine. Since then, over a thousand Velorex 16/350 vehicles have been built every year. The vehicle was lively - the design speed was 85 km/h - but uncomfortable and not the safest. Drivers had to take corners very sensitively. The two-seat interior was cramped, filled with engine noise and cold. However, an interested buyer paid only a quarter of what he would have paid for a conventional automobile for a tricycle. Plus, all you needed to drive the Velorex was a motorcycle license. After twenty years, the concept became obsolete and production was finally discontinued in 1971. The iconic vehicle, which became the butt of jokes, earned a number of unflattering nicknames - the ragamuffin, the stampede of pipes and the fleeing tent. However, while in the past most drivers acquired it for existential reasons, today it is a beloved and priceless symbol of a distinctive lifestyle for its lucky owners.

The reverse side of the coin, which is the work of medal maker MgA. Martin Dašek, is dominated by a three-quarter view of the Velorex 16/350. The additional motif of the relief is the traces of three tyres. As the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with the licence of a foreign issuer, which is the island of Niue, the obverse side bears the necessary elements - the national emblem, the nominal value of 1 DOLLAR (NZD) and the year of issue 2023. Following the title of the collector's cycle, the perimeter of the obverse side is formed by sections of the wheels of various means of transport.

An integral part of the coin is a spectacular packaging in the form of a cardboard book, which contains accompanying text and period photographs.

Specifications

Collectors set
Code
76266-711
Issuer
Niue
Nominal value
1 NZD
Author of the obverse
MgA. Martin Dašek
Author of the reverse
MgA. Martin Dašek
Numbered issue
No
Certificate
No
Material
Silver
Fineness
999 / 1000
Weight
31.1 g
Diameter
37 mm
Packaging
Blister
Capsule
Yes
Czech Mint
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