Slovakia

2013

Commemorative coin

1150th anniversary of the advent of the mission of Constantine and Methodius to Great Moravia

Official Journal of the European Union

The design depicts the Thessalonian brothers Constantine and Methodius along with the symbolic double cross stood on three hills. The cross is at the same time held as a Bishop's crozier, thereby linking together symbols of statehood and Christianity and emphasising the significance of the brothers' mission, which helped ensure the full sovereignty and legitimacy of Great Moravia — the first Slav state in central Europe. The figure of Constantine is holding a book representing education and faith, while Methodius is shown with a church symbolising faith and institutional Christianity. Along the lower edge of the inner part of the coin is the name of the issuing country ‘SLOVENSKO’, the year ‘863’ and the year ‘2013’, with a dividing mark between each. Along the upper edge of the inner part are the names ‘KONŠTANTÍN’ and ‘METOD’. To the left of the brothers are the stylised letters ‘mh’, the initials of the coin's designer Miroslav Hric, and to the right is the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint, comprising the letters ‘MK’ placed between two dies. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The Thessalonian brothers Constantine (~826-869) and Michael (~815-885), known as Cyril and Method(ius), concocted the Glagolitic alphabet based on the Greek alphabet, but with borrowings from Armenian, Georgian and Semitic writing systems. They began with the writing of Slavic languages and translated large parts of the Bible into Slavic. Today venerated as "Slavic apostles", they Christianised in the Byzantine Mission from 863 in Prince Rastislav's West Slavic Great Moravia and contributed to giving full sovereignty and legitimacy to the first Slavic state in Central Europe. The design was initially rejected by the EU because of its religious symbols. The cross is held as a bishop's crook, thus linking a state symbol with a Christian symbol. Constantine holds a book in his hands, symbolising education and faith, while Method is depicted with a stylised church, representing faith and institutional Christianity.

Edge lettering

Designer