Gold Coin St. Nicholas Church - Lesser Town 2021 Proof

Church of St. Nicholas - Lesser Town - 100 g

A unique gold coin issued by the State of Solomon Islands in 2021 in 99.9% gold purity and weighing 100 g in top quality reverse proof is dedicated to one of the most beautiful baroque buildings in Prague, which is undoubtedly the Church of St. Nicholas in Lesser Town.

The reverse of the coin depicts the precisely crafted dome of the Church of St. Nicholas in the Lesser Town. The motif is created in four layers of embossing at different depths using an innovative coinage technique, which creates a perfect three-dimensional effect and is complemented by the inscription "St. Nicholas" and the year of issue "2021".
The Church of St Nicholas in the Lesser Town, together with the former Jesuit professional house, divides Lesser Town Square into two parts, while the original Gothic parish church of St Nicholas from 1283 had to give way to the construction of the church. The contemporary importance of the building is evidenced by the presence of Emperor Leopold, who laid the foundation stone.
Construction began in 1703 and continued in stages according to the plans of the prominent family of architects Christoph Dientzenhofer (the nave and façade), then his son Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer (the addition of the chancel and the dome), and finally Kilian's son-in-law Anselm Luraga (the bell tower).
St Nicholas Church is characterised by a 40-metre high, dynamically undulating main façade with two pairs of columns and statues of saints. The façade rises in a trio of gables, the raised central part of which gives space for the statue of St Nicholas. The top of the church, at 79 metres high, is defined by a slender bell tower and at the same time a majestic dome with a lantern. The interior height of the lantern reaches 57 metres to the top, making it the highest interior in Prague. The magnificent Baroque interior decoration was as costly as the building itself. It includes, for example, larger-than-life statues, spectacular ceiling frescoes, gilded sculptures and marble panelling.
The dome over the crossing of the temple, 20 metres in diameter, is set on a tambour with broken windows, eight allegorical statues of virtues and pilasters with vases. The fresco in the dome is the work of František Xaver Palek and depicts a scene of the Holy Trinity and the saints. The dome opens into a lantern with a dove of the Holy Spirit.

The obverse depicts a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian-Rank Broadley, surrounded by the inscriptions 'ELIZABETH II', 'SOLOMON ISLANDS', the artist's initials 'IRB', the weight '100g' and the face value '50 DOLLARS'.

The coin comes in its original gift box along with a numbered certificate of origin in an extremely limited mintage of only 49 pieces for the entire world!

This product is part of the following product sets: