500 Sk 1999 - minting of the first tahler coins in Kremnica -> Proof

By the end of the 15th century, the rapid development of trade, the lack of coins of higher value and the shortage of gold at the same time, gave rise to the effort to supplement or replace gold coins by large silver coins. The first of these were the Venetian Lira and Milanese Testone (1472-1474), followed by the Tyrolean Pfundner and Half Guldiner, and finally in 1486, the Guldiner. Guldiners were issued by Lorraine in 1488, and the Swiss cantons of Bern (1491), Sitten (1498) and Basel (1499). In 1499, the Kremnica Mint also made its first attempt to introduce large silver coins. All these coins were small in number and are rare now. They were forerunners of the period of thaler coinage. The first thaler coins - Guldiners, were struck at Kremnica during the rule of Vladislav II Jagielo in the years 1499-1506, and were initiated by Count of the Chamber Jan I. Thurzo, a prominent mining and metal-working entrepreneur, merchant and financier. The Guldiner is one of the most beautiful coins of the period, and is an example of the rich tradition of mining and the progressive methods of processing precious metals in the area of present day Slovakia, where a large part of Europe's gold, silver and copper was produced in the Middle Ages. Obverse: On the obverse, the contemporary process of striking coins is depicted in the centre of the coin, with the designation of the face value below. The name of the state SLOVENSKA REPUBLIKA is placed in a circle between a ring of pearls and the edge of the coin. In the upper part, it is interrupted by the coat of arms. The lower part of the circle contains the date 1999, the initials of the designer Ing. Milan Vircik MV and the Kremnica Mintmark MK. Reverse: On the reverse, the original thaler coins are depicted in the centre of the coin field, in combination with a period view of Kremnica, where they were struck. Above them is the date 1499, indicating the first striking of thaler coins and the name of the town Kremnica.