Silver medal Legends of the Czech Châteaux - Litomyšl and evil countess proof

The series titled Legends of Czech Castles is full of myths, mysteries, and fairy tales. The second silver medal from the Czech Mint commemorates the legend of the evil countess of Litomyšl.

At the castle in Litomyšl there lived a proud, vain, and conceited countess. Above all else, she loved to dress up, change outfits, and show off in all sorts of dresses. Other noble ladies imitated her, but the countess could not bear the thought of not being the center of attention. So she decided to have a dress made that the world had never seen. She didn’t go to a seamstress or a tailor for it—instead, she visited a renowned baker. He baked her a dress from bread dough, which he decorated with colorful icing. The countess was overjoyed and decided to show off the dress during her Sunday stroll. She was strutting like a peacock when a beggar woman crossed her path. She begged for a little food, but the noblewoman rudely dismissed her: “Get out of my way, you filthy harlot!” The destitute woman gazed hungrily at the bread dress and replied: “You squander God’s gift for nothing, while others suffer and perish from hunger. May God punish you on the spot, heartless lady!” Just as the beggar woman said, so it came to pass. The dress instantly turned to dust, and the countess plunged into hell. Her punishment, however, was far from over - for her restless soul began to appear at the castle, pleading in vain for help. She will find peace only when she finds someone who can help her atone for her sins. But the helper must do so in secret, or sudden death will befall him! Unfortunately, a kind-hearted nobleman learned this the hard way; after mentioning the countess’s curse to a guard, he fell from his horse and broke his neck…

The obverse side of the commemorative medal, designed by academic sculptor Majka Wichnerová, depicts a noblewoman in a revealing dress rudely shooing away a beggar. On the reverse side, you will find a view of the castle, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The composition is completed by the inscriptions LITOMYŠL AND THE EVIL COUNTESS and LITOMYŠL CASTLE.

This issue, which loosely follows the Legends of Czech Castles series, is being released in a limited edition of just 300 pieces.