Silver coin On Wheels - Motorcycle JAWA Californian proof
Silver coin On Wheels - Motorcycle JAWA Californian proof
The product can also be purchased directly in the stores of the Czech Mint
On Wheels 2024
The twenty-third silver coin from the Czech Mint's On Wheels series pays tribute to the JAWA 350/362 Californian motorcycle, which has enchanted motorcyclists in the USA.
World War II devastated the planet, but the huge market in the United States remained intact. No wonder it attracted suppliers of all kinds of goods from all corners of the world. Motorcycle manufacturers were no exception, and the Japanese were in the lead since the mid-1960s . Alongside them, representatives of Czechoslovak industry also tried to establish themselves on the American market in order to gain foreign exchange. However, it was not easy to succeed. The increased American demand for sporty motorcycles came at a time when the automotive industry in Czechoslovakia took precedence and motorcycle production stagnated. The only way to enter the American market with a new model at minimal cost and with limited production capabilities was to break from the existing concept and go the route of a lightweight motorcycle without bonnet using most of the parts from established production. From the original redesigned JAWA Sport motorcycles gradually emerged a new model range that was able to compete with the world's manufacturers in terms of performance and price. As the brand name JAWA Californian suggested, the main market was to be California - a western US state with a temperate climate. However, there were also interested buyers in West Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK and Sweden, Finland, Australia and New Zealand. The top of the range was the Californian IV - also known by the type designation 362/00 Oilmaster, which referred to the patented separate greasing system. A clever advertising campaign presented it as a cheap and versatile machine designed primarily for fun. An extensive dealer network was set up to sell and service it, with over four hundred dealers in the USA and Canada. By 1974, 13,000 units had been produced, but the sales success did not last long. The saturated American market pushed the manufacturer to continually innovate in ways that JAWA could not offer, and it was forced to retreat from its hard-won position. The lower price and longer service life compared to Japanese machines could not compensate for the design backwardness of the exhausted Czechoslovakian concept. In Czechoslovakia, the "Kalifas" intended for foreign countries fell into the hands of only a few lucky people - as part of unfulfilled orders or complaints from foreign customers. Therefore, many riders still long for a motorcycle that used to be unavailable…
The reverse side of the coin, which is the work of the medal maker MgA. Martin Dašek, is dominated by a depiction of a motorcycle surrounded by an inscription of the JAWA 350/362 CALIFORNIAN. The additional inscription OILMASTER highlights the separate greasing system. As the coins of the Czech Mint are issued with the license of a foreign issuer, which is the island of Niue, the obverse side bears its necessary elements - the national emblem, the nominal value of 1 DOLLAR (NZD) and the year of issue 2024. Following the title of the collector's cycle, the perimeter of the obverse side consists of segments of wheels of various means of transport.
An integral part of the coin is a spectacular packaging in the form of a leporello, which contains accompanying text and period photographs.