sk sk

Results of the public competition for the design of a €10 silver collector coin commemorating the 450th anniversary of the birth of Jan Jesenius

First prize (the design selected for the coin)
Mária Poldaufová

First prize (the design selected for the coin) First prize (the design selected for the coin)

Second prize
Miroslav Rónai

Second prize Second prize

Third prize
Michal Gavula

Third prize Third prize

In July 2015 Národná banka Slovenska announced a public competition for the design of a €10 silver collector coin commemorating the 450th anniversary of the birth of Jan Jesenius, a pioneering scientist and physician as well as a leading figure in the Bohemian Estates’ Revolt. A total of twelve designs by twelve designers were entered in the competition. In November 2015 they were evaluated anonymously by the Committee for the Assessment of Commemorative and Collector Coin Designs, which was assisted in this task by the expert advisor Tünde Lengyelová, representing the Institute of History of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

A design by Mária Poldaufová was awarded first prize and, on the Committee’s recommendation, the NBS Bank Board approved her design for the coin. The Committee commended the artistry and content of the both the obverse and reverse designs. On the obverse side there is a dramatic rendering of Jesenius performing the first public autopsy in Prague in 1600. Silhouetted in the background is the Church of Our Lady before Týn in Prague’s Old Town Square. The reverse side is filled with a portrait of Jesenius as rector of Charles University in Prague, wearing the rectorial chain.

Second prize was awarded to Miroslav Rónai. The Committee praised the way the design captured the theme and also the high quality of modelling. The obverse design shows period notes on the human anatomy, in reference to Jesenius’s celebrated and advanced anatomy classes. To the left, below the Slovak coat of arms, there is the Jesenius family coat of arms and the coin’s denomination and currency ’10 EURO’. The reverse side shows a portrait of Jesenius, and depicted on the left, as a symbol of medicine, is a candle with a snake wrapped around it.

Third prize went to Michal Gavula. The obverse side depicts a period illustration of the execution of Czech nobles in Prague’s Old Town Square. Below it is a text referring to the execution of Jan Jesenius. The design is based on the original miniature drawing. On the reverse side, the upper part contains a portrait of Jesenius wearing his rectorial chain. Below, as a reference to Jesenius’s scientific work, is an axial diagram of the human anatomy showing the skeleton and musculature.

An additional prize was awarded to Vladimír Pavlica in recognition of the high quality of his design.

The silver collector coin is due to be issued in November 2016.