Gold investment coin
Bedřich Smetana
Just like gold, some ideas and actions have the power to transmit their value through the ages. And when they are truly pure, even the passing centuries will not take away any of their lustre.
Exclusivity
From the workshop of an artist
A strong legacy
No VAT
Bedřich Smetana coins
An investment in gold and support for the Czech Philharmonic
These gold collector coins commemorate the legacy of Bedřich Smetana, who laid the foundations of Bohemia music and, in a broader context, Czech culture. Their timeless artistic value is guaranteed by their designer, the renowned medal maker Michal Vitanovský. Purchasing a coin represents direct financial philanthropic support for the Czech Philharmonic, thus bringing new cultural experiences to investors.
| Weight: 2 oz Diameter: 50 mm Thickness: 1.66 mm |
Country of origin: Switzerland Manufacturer/Refinery: PAMP Purity: 999.9 (24 carats) |
SMART coins
In addition to their symbolic and artistic value, the Bedřich Smetana coins also have investment value. They are so-called SMART coins. As such, they always carry a nominal value and are the official tender of a certain state. And what is their advantage? By meeting these criteria, they are exempt from VAT. The Czech National Bank does not support this type of tender and therefore, in the case of SMART coins, a different country whose central bank recognizes SMART coins must be chosen as the monetary authority before the minting process. In this case, the coins are minted under the Solomon Islands banner and the coins also bear the likeness of the official head of state, King Charles III.
Pre-orders, deposits and serial number reservations: from June 2023 Fixing of the exact price of a coin according to the current gold market price: January 2024 Coin delivery: February 2024.
The face of the composer
by the hands of the artist
It is obvious that inspirational personalities also deserve unique portrayals. This is why we approached one of the best Czech medal makers, Michal Vitanovský, the designer of the Czechoslovak Order of T. G. Masaryk (1990), the Czech Order of the White Lion (1994), and other commemorative coins, medals and insignia. His work includes designs for other coins, for example the Golden Solar System space series.
As a representative of the old school of medal makers, Mr Vitanovský exclusively uses traditional methods. He creates his engravings and plaster moulds by hand. Using them, the coins are then minted from pure gold at one of the most modern facilities in the world, the Swiss PAMP precious metals foundry. The best of tradition and technology meet in our coins. Their uniqueness is confirmed by their limited mintage. There is a limited edition of only 500 of each coin in the whole world.
Bedřich Smetana
the composer who laid the foundations of Czech music
The commemorative Bedřich Smetana investment SMART coin is set within the broader framework of the celebrations that will take place throughout 2024.
VYou can find more about the project at smetana200.com.
The peak of creativity
At his creative peak, Bedřich was struck by deafness associated with incipient mental illness. Yet his musical imagination meant he never stopped composing. He moved to Jabkenice, where many of his greatest works were written, to be with his daughter. There he finished, for example, Má vlast (My Fatherland), which made him famous far beyond the borders of Bohemia. He died on 12 May 1884 at the age of 60.
Youth and the beginnings of an independent artistic career
Although Bedřich learned to play the violin from a young age and performed publicly as a child prodigy at the age of six, he chose the path of a musician against his father’s wishes. His father had wanted to pass on the craft of brewing to his son. After graduating from grammar school in Plzeň, he moved to Prague to earn a living as a home teacher and to study composition privately. He was already writing his first compositions at this time. His reputation as an excellent musician spread rapidly, and on the recommendation of his teacher, Josef Proksch, he played for the emperor himself and met, for example, Franz Liszt, whom he deeply admired.
Sweden and maturation
At around the age of thirty, he was offered the position of director of the Philharmonic Society in Gothenburg, Sweden. He accepted, and worked there from 1856 to 1861 as a respected composer, music teacher, pianist and choirmaster. His time there was also enriching for him in terms of new musical impulses and a broadening of his horizons. From Sweden, Bedřich travelled to Weimar to meet Franz Liszt, and it was Liszt who turned his attention to programme music. Bedřich composed his first symphonic poems while still in Sweden.
In the centre of Bohemian musical life
He struggled for recognition on his return to Bohemia, but after the successful production of The Brandenburgers in Bohemia and the even more successful The Bartered Bride, he was honoured with the post of principal conductor at the Provisional Theatre. He gradually became a key figure in the musical scene in Bohemia. In 1868, his third opera, Dalibor, was premièred at the laying of the foundation stone of the National Theatre, and the famous strains of his Libuše were first heard at the opening ceremony in 1881.
“The life of the Czechs in music.”
Bedřich Smetana at the National Theatre foundation stone laying ceremony, 16 May 1868
Support for the Czech Philharmonic
Purchasing a coin provides direct donor support for the Czech Philharmonic, as part of the price of each coin is used to make a philanthropic contribution to the Czech Philharmonic Foundation. Every investor in a coin becomes a member of the Dynamic Club for patrons of the Czech Philharmonic, with an attractive cultural programme prepared for them for 2024.
Podcast - Offline Štěpána Křečka
Michal Medek:
Donors are helping the Philharmonic grow significantly
Michal Medek is the sales director for the Czech Philharmonic, and will now also be the director of Smetana’s Litomyšl. In BHS Chief Economist Štěpán Křeček’s podcast you can hear about the success of our most important orchestra, and also about the importance of patronage and philanthropic support. You will hear about how the Bedřich Smetana coins help in this regard at the 35:33 time stamp.
Everyone respects gold
It is a universal currency that has retained its value throughout history and across continents, regardless of gender, age or opinion. It is a tangible embodiment of your financial freedom.
Freedom covered by gold
Gold has fascinated and enchanted mankind for more than 4,000 years. It has retained its value and rarity over the long term. It is a respected tender in all world markets. In the form of SMART coins, gold is exempt from VAT. It serves as a valuable inheritance as well as a contingency reserve for unexpected expenses. It is a safe haven in times of inflation. Gold represents freedom.
The whole world understands gold
Christopher Columbus landed on the American continent and King Ferdinand of Spain issued a clear order: “Get gold!” This metal has accompanied us in every era, appearing in art, economics and everyday life. A thousand years, a thousand forms - but gold always stands out as a preserver of value. Currency, society and states are volatile, yet gold retains its purchasing power.
A soft metal, a hard currency
In times of economic recessions, when other asset prices fall, gold resists or even strengthens. This could be seen during the economic crisis between 2008 and 2011, when its price rose by 160%. Gold even appreciated in the turbulent year of 2020. It is difficult to predict how the global economy will develop going forwards. We believe that gold will retain its role as the investment anchor as it has always been. This is why we like to use it to balance investment portfolios.
NEWS
Gold investment coin of Bedřich Smetana
BHS Chief Economist Štěpán Křeček on Bedřich Smetana's SMART coin project.
An interview about the project and its philanthropic aspects. More here. Show more.
Press release and the opening of reservations for this globally unique investment coin. More here. Show more.
Official announcement of the partnership and project at Smetana’s Litomyšl
The commemorative coin debuted at the closing concert on 2 July 2023. Plaster casts exhibited at Bedřich Smetana’s birthplace.
Podcast with Michal Medek, sales director for the Czech Philharmonic
On economist Štěpán Křeček’s podcast, Michal Medek, the sales director for the Czech Philharmonic, came to talk about Bedřich Smetana, the most important Czech musical ensemble and his plans, but also about the coin project. Listen to the podcast here. Show more
Selection of the design and manufacture of the plaster casts
The plaster casts are made and sent to the Swiss precious metal foundry PAMP. This is where the Bedřich Smetana SMART coins will be minted.
Michal Vitanovský prepares the design proposals
Medal maker Michal Vitanovský, designer of the Czechoslovak Order of T. G. Masaryk and the Czech Order of the White Lion, working on the first designs for the coin. He is searching for the most suitable form for the obverse and reverse, and presents several different picturesque designs.
Reserve a Bedřich Smetana investment gold coin right now
and automatically become a member of the Dynamic club of patrons of the Czech Philharmonic.
Leave us a contact and we will contact you soon and guide you all the way to the coin of Bedřich Smetana.