Silver Coin 100 CZK National Theatre 100th Anniversary 1983

100th anniversary of the opening of the National Theatre

Silver commemorative coin issued in Czechoslovakia in 1983 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the opening of the National Theatre. These coins are very rarely obtained and are therefore highly sought after by collectors and investors.

This rare silver coin is housed in a plastic capsule, certificate of authenticity not included.

The National Theatre in Prague is one of the most famous theatres in the Czech Republic. The Neo-Renaissance building of the Josef Zítek Theatre is one of the most important buildings in the country both in terms of general national culture, history and purely architectural aspects.

Czech patriots began to consider the construction of a stone theatre as early as 1844 at their meetings in Prague. The beginning of the construction was first realized by the request for "privilege for the construction, equipment, maintenance and management" of an independent Czech theatre, which was submitted to the Estates Committee of the Czech Diet on 29 January 1845 by František Palacký. The privilege was granted in April 1845. However, it was not until six years later - in April 1851 - that the meanwhile established Committee for the Establishment of the Czech National Theatre in Prague issued the first public appeal to start collections.

However, the national collection was not the main source of funding for the construction of the National Theatre; most of the funds were provided by the Austrian Empire, later by the Kingdom and the countries represented in the Imperial Council and by the Holy Crown of Hungary (Austria-Hungary). Emperor Franz Joseph I also visited the opening ceremony and on that occasion made his first personal contribution of 5,000 guilders and later, when he learned of the theatre's burning down, he immediately donated another 13,000. The Provincial Committee of the Kingdom of Bohemia released 14,700 guilders, Czech patriots organized a bazaar at Žofín, the proceeds of which amounted to almost 6 thousand guilders, and members of the imperial family donated 26 thousand, The Russian Tsar and the Czech nobility also contributed - among the most important ones, let us mention at least Prince Lobkowitz (6 thousand gold coins), the Count family of Chotek (over 4.5 thousand), the Count family of Kolovrat (over 4 thousand), the names of the Schwarzenbergs, Kinskis, Czernins, Nostics, Harrachs and others.