Although five years have passed since Karel Gott died, the most prominent star of Czech music is still shining brightly. A silver commemorative medal from the Czech Mint commemorates the legendary singer's 85th birthday.

In his youth he longed for a career as a painter and planned to study at an art school. When he was not accepted, he left to apprentice and became an electrician. During his apprenticeship years, he fortunately devoted himself to his love - music and singing. Although his tenor voice at the time of the baritones condemned him to play second fiddle, he was not discouraged - although his exceptional voice would have been great in opera, he decided to use it to sing jazz and popular songs. The interest of the audience confirmed that he made the right decision! The unprecedented fame he achieved both at home and far beyond, then allowed the singer to showcase his many other talents. He took up his favourite painting, shone in films and entertained his fans with a refined sense of humour with a touch of self-irony. The phenomenon named Karel Gott didn't even have to sing - he lit up every event with his mere presence . When he breathed his last in 2019, not long after celebrating his 80th birthday, Czech culture was speechless and lost its god. But the men who wanted to be like him, and the women whose knees buckled at the thought of him, have not forgotten and never will. The master whose name is synonymous with talent, professionalism, refinement and success is known without exaggeration to every Czech, regardless of age or musical taste. His star is perceived and respected even by those who do not belong to his admirers. Karel Gott has attained immortality, thus fulfilling the wish he sings about in one of his most famous songs, "To be still young, that's what I wish, to be still young. To defy the calendar once and for all. Only youth, never old age."

Mgr. Petr Horák is an artist of many talents - sculptor, glass artist and medal maker. He is also a teacher at the medal school, and thus influences generations of coin makers. His works are characterised by distinctive and dynamic modelling. As a long-standing and respected associate of the Czech Mint, he is dedicated to the most prestigious commissions. He has already taken up the iconic subject of Karel Gott twice, on the occasion of his seventy-fifth and eightieth birthdays. The choice of an artist to commemorate Karel Gott's late fiftieth birthday was therefore clear. The expert medal maker accepted the new challenge and on the obverse side of the medal he faithfully depicted the Master not only in his mature age, but also in his childhood. The reverse side then bears Karel Gott's signature, his life dates 14 July 1939 - 1 October 2019 and the title of the popular song, which is also an eloquent life challenge: GO FOR HAPPINESS

The five-ounce silver medal is published in an edition of only 300 pieces. Each piece is numbered on the edge and stored in an elegant case.

Photograph in the accompanying brochure was made by Lenka Hatašová