ABOUT 5000 Sk 500. výročí ražby tolarových mincí v Kremnici

Discoveries of deposits of silver in Central Europe and new skills developed in mining and metallurgy at the end of the fifteenth century increased the output of silver and led to efforts to introduce larger silver coins into the circulation, which laid the foundation for the establishment of a Thaler currency. The first predecessor to the Thaler - the silver Guldiner (40 mm, 31.7 g) originated in 1486 in the Tyrol as the equivalent of the gold Gulden. In 1499, Guldiners began to be minted in Kremnica as well.

The Kremnica Guldiners rank among the finest coins of the period and have a special position in the history of minting as well as their gold replicas, which belong to the first larger gold coins struck in the world. Preserved pieces are in the weight range from 16.7 to 68.2 g, and represent the equivalent about 5 to 20 ducats. Silver and gold Guldiners were minted from 1499 to 1506 and were presumably intended more for representative purposes and as gifts than for circulation. They represent the long tradition of mining and minting in the area of Slovakia and reflect its significant economic position at that time.

Description of the coin

Obverse:
The obverse of the coin depicts the obverse of the first type of Kremnica Guldiner with the Hungarian coat of arms consisting of the coat of arms of the individual lands under the Hungarian crown. Below is the name of the state SLOVENSKA REPUBLIKA interrupted by the coat of arms above which is the designation of the nominal value.

Reverse:
The reverse of the coin depicts the reverse of the first type of Kremnica Guldiner with St. Ladislaus, King of Hungary, as a knight on horseback. Below, there is in two lines the text 500th ANNIVERSARY with the year 1499, marking the first minting of Thaler coins on the left and 1999 marking the 500th anniversary on the right side. The peripheral text reds MINTING OF THE FIRST THALER COINS - KREMNICA.