Silver medal Hunting stand

There are approximately 90,000 hunters in the Czech Republic who manage nearly seven million hectares of hunting grounds. The silver commemorative medal from the Czech Mint will bring joy not only to them.

Game hunting has been a means of survival since the dawn of humanity. Without it, our ancient ancestors would not have been able to obtain meat for food or furs, bones, and tendons usable for making tools and clothing. The first hunting techniques date back to the Stone Age, when prehistoric people tirelessly tracked game, drove it into corners, or caught it in ingenious traps. Yet, as cave paintings, figurines, and engravings show, animals were not merely raw materials to them—they held them in immense esteem and revered them. Over time, hunting became not only a necessity but also a symbol of skill, courage, and social status. In the Middle Ages, it was the privilege of the nobility, who established precise rules and etiquette for hunting. It was then that a tradition was born that is still honored today by hunters around the world. Modern hunting is no longer about survival, but about conservation and care for wildlife and the landscape. A hunter’s mission includes regulating animal populations, providing supplementary feeding during the winter months, restoring habitats, combating poaching, and maintaining balance in an environment that, without human intervention, could become overpopulated or, conversely, barren. Hunting also has a social dimension—it brings together people who share a love of nature, respect for traditions, and a sense of responsibility toward future generations. Contrary to popular misconceptions, it is not about shooting, but about understanding—about the coexistence of humans and nature that has lasted for thousands of years…

While the obverse of the medal features a hunter, accompanied by a faithful pointing dog while hunting game, the reverse is dominated by a herd of deer, which the hunter observes through a rifle scope. Both sides of the medal are then intertwined with tree rings. The rich silver relief, the work of medallist Jiří Hanuš, DiS., is complemented by coloring.

Don’t miss the previous issues in this thematic series, which were dedicated to beekeeping and fishing.