May 1, 2014 – To mark the 75th birthday of Czech pop music legend Karel Gott, the Czech Mint in Jablonec is issuing a set of two commemorative medals for the German market. The many-time winner of the Zlaty slavík (Golden Nightingale) award will literally shine in gold, on a medal made from one ounce of gold. A silver version will also be prepared for those who are interested.
The front side of the medal displays a portrait of Karel Gott by Jaroslav Bejvl, a medal designer, whose works have been exhibited in places such as the opera in Tehran, a mosque in Abu Dhabi and Moscow’s Czar Palace. Besides being a designer of Czech commemorative coins for many years, Bejvl is also a long-time designer of world renowned crystal chandeliers.
The back of the medal features a nightingale and a harp. For this side, the inspiration was a popular sculpture of Gott, reproduced on the medal by Petr Horák. “Work on a commemorative medal for a person with such high calibre as Karel Gott is a great honour for every artist. The lyre on my design depicts music, the laurel is a symbol of greatness, and the singing nightingale is a reference to the singer’s well known successes in the contest to choose the most popular Czech singer,” explained Petr Horák, who presented the singer with a gift of one copy of the plaster cast with a handwritten dedication.
Karel Gott chose both authors in an art contest. The singer appeared in person at the Czech Mint for the first commemorative medal. He placed a gold ribbon on the press for the commemorative medal, pushed the button and then watched as the press created his portrait in metal with a force of 150 tonnes. “This is a nice authentic portrait, which does not beautify, does not fine tune and acknowledges my age and my soul,” Karel Gott said, praising the commemorative medal from the Czech Mint.
Karel Gott’s German fans can choose a silver or gold version. The mint produces both versions from one Troy ounce of precious metal. “The German version of the medal is being issued in limited circulation numbered by a certificate. The issued batch is limited to 1,000 gold medals and 5,000 silver medals. The Czech version was produced in 250 gold medals, which were sold within one day after their production. We are confident that Karel Gott’s popularity will lead to the same success in Germany,” Surdy added.
Although Karel Gott does not celebrate his birthday until July, the medals have been issued already in January and can be ordered at this special website.
Read more about Karel Gott on karelgott.net.
Or visit the Czech Mint.