Slovak Gold Coin Honors Prince Pribina of Nitra

The Kremnica Mint on behalf of the National Bank of Slovakia have launched (7th November) a new gold coin which pays homage to Slovakia’s past history and remembers the preceding principality of Nitra, considered the pre-curser of Slovakian culture and heritage.

The coin marks the 1,150^th anniversary of the death of Pribina (800 – 861) national hero who established his own principality in 836 in territory now in Hungary and was the first ruler of Slavic origin to build a Christian church on Slavic territory and also the first to accept baptism. The consecration of the church in Nitrava took place around 827, thus it was the first church in all Eastern Europe whose existence is documented in writing. Pribina was killed in 861 during a battle, his son Kocel was installed as the ruler of Lower Pannonia in 864. The figure of Pribina was last seen on the 20 Koruna banknote issued from the National Bank in 1993 until Slovakia’s adoption of the EURO in 2009.

The obverse of the coin which is designed by sculptor Ivan Řehák, depicts the relief of a medieval sculpture of Pribina attributed to a fragment of a gilded plaquette from an altar which comes from the archaeological site in Bojná. The figure is positioned within an incused larger profile of the Prince along with the text “NITRIANSKE KNIEZA PRIBINA 861” (Prince Pribina of Nitra, 861)

The reverse of the coin includes an image of the Castle of Nitra set within an incused shape of an outline of a bell – an old Christian symbol.  The featured bell comes from an important archaeological site in Bojná and is dated back to the 9th century. The text “SLOVENSKO 2011” is positioned above the locket outline with the coin’s denomination appearing below the primary design.

The coin, which is only the second issue from the National Bank of Slovakia with a face value of 100 EURO is struck to proof quality with a gold content of .900 fine  and a weight of 9.5 grams, the diameter is 26 mm. The coin will be available from December but this and other coins scheduled for issue can be reserved for delivery.

For more information on this and other coins issued by the Kremnica Mint, please visit their website at: http://www.mint.sk/arch_nbs_2011.php