Václav Havel (b. 5 October 1936 – d. 18 December 2011), the last Czechoslovak and the first Czech president, retired from politics in 2003, at the end of his last term of office. As a result, he could continue in his original vocation of a playwright. He also debuted as a film director when he filmed his last play Leaving, written by him after the termination of his political career.

Václav Havel was one of the most prominent Czech dissidents and a symbol of the Velvet Revolution which led to the fall of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.  Thanks to his role in the 1989 events he was several times nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. For the first time he was elected president in December 1989 and remained in office until 2003, when he was replaced by Václav Klaus.

Havel earned world renown not only as a politician and dissident, bu also as a playwright and one of leading authors of absurdist theatre plays.

Václav Havel, man with great ideas, was even during his life a symbol of something understood by some and refused by others. It may be impossible for a dramatic as well as political work to have a different effect internationally. In the Czech society, Havel was highly respected and admired, as well as refused and opposed. Due to strange transmutation, the main motto of his fans and followers – Truth and Love – were negative terms in the mouths of his opponents. It does not however diminish his greatness and impact. He became a supporting symbol in discussion and search of truth – a very rare one and unique in the Czech society. Many things have been written about him and more will certainly appear.

Truth and love have many interpretations and the Havel symbol will help them discover forever.

The main motif on the obverse side is the effigy of Václav Havel, complemented with text in lines. On the reverse side there is a centrally placed coloured signature of Václav Havel, and the legend in circumscription in two languages reads “Pravda a láska zvítězí nad lží a nenávistí“, i.e. Truth and love will overcome lies and hatred.

The medal was collaboratively produced  with the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97.

Limited edition 1500 pcs.