1 koruna, Czechoslovakia – story of art and silent resistance.

[stef]

Here is a Czechoslovak coin with a beautiful reverse. It was minted between 1957 and 1992 (with different averses). Around 1957 the communist government decided to introduce new 1 Kčs coin. One of the many competitors was the sculptor Marie Uchytilová-Kučová. She didn’t win the competition, but the finance minister liked the proposal so much that he decided to mint her design.


1 koruna, Czechoslovakia. A girl planting linden tree. Design: Marie Uchytilová-Kučová (17 January 1924 – 16 November 1989).

[stef]

For several years thaw was the whole story. But few years ago, something new was uncovered (ČT24).


Marie Uchytilová worked as a teacher at an art school. A secretary at the same school told Marie the story of her daughter, Bedřiška Synková (image from ČT24 site).

[stef]

Bedřiška was a scout. And the scout organization was forbidden in Czechoslovakia. In 1953 the nineteen years old girl was arrested for leading a scout group. Accused of treason, she was sentenced to ten years in prison. Marie Uchytilová was so angry about the story that she decided to use Bedřiška’s portrait for her coin design. Bedřiška Synková was still in the prison when millions of coins with a portrait of a “traitor” were released in circulation.


Bedřiška was released after five years. In 1968 she, with her family, emigrated to Switzerland. You can read and listen the whole story here.

[Figleaf]

Thank you, Stef. That story of human cruelty and stupidity against a young girl deserved to be heard.

Peter

[<k>]

Beautiful design. Excellent story.

[brandm24]

A wonderful story, Stef, and rich in irony. Hopefully the finance minister was still alive when the truth finally came out. It's a very nice coin in more ways than one.

Bruce

[chrisild]

Interesting story indeed! Had no idea about that background ...

Christian

[stef]

A wonderful story, Stef, and rich in irony. Hopefully the finance minister was still alive when the truth finally came out. It's a very nice coin in more ways than one.

Bruce

Július Ďuriš was a finance minister between 1953 and 1963. He supported the Prague Spring in 1968 and was expelled from the communist party in 1970. He died in 1986.