Although Christmas is not just a Christian holiday, we must not forget its original spiritual dimension. Therefore, the Slovak Christmas medal made of pure silver was dedicated to the mother of Jesus Christ - the Virgin Mary.

One of the most beautiful altars of the St. Elizabeth Cathedral in Košice is undoubtedly the altar of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, which is the work of an anonymous artist known as the Master of Okoličné. The late Gothic gem from 1516 has two sides that are surprising in their variety and colour contrasts. The fast side depicts four saints - Catherine, Barbara, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. When the wings of the altar are opened, the feast side appears, presenting four Marian scenes - the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Three Kings, the Flight into Egypt - and a sculpture of the Virgin Mary with Saint Elizabeth. However, this rare glimpse into the altar cabinet is only available on feast days. For example, at Christmas…

The obverse side of the medal, which is the work of the medal maker Branislav Ronai, is dominated by the bust of the Virgin Mary from the altarpiece. The reverse side, designed by the medal maker Pavel Károly, shows the Christmas atmosphere full of Slovak religious tradition and folklore. The composition is closed by the inscription VIANOČNÁ MEDAILA (CHRISTMAS MEDAL).

The medal was minted by the Slovak Mint Mincovňa Kremnica in an edition of only 200 pieces.