Czech Republic - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Czech Republic, a landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Poland, Germany, Austria, and Slovakia has a total land area of 30,450 square miles and a population of around 10.7 million. It is characterized with hot summers and cold, cloudy and snowy winters. The country obtained ‘developed’ status from the world Bank in 2006. It is on a quest to reduce its dependency on the highly polluting coal as a source of energy is looking to procuring 40% of its power needs from nuclear energy in the near future. The major industries are tourism, metallurgy, glass, fuels, machinery etc. Tourism however experienced a setback when its currency (koruna) strengthened which in turn provided travelers with fewer bangs.

Travel Resources:

The best time to visit Czech Republic is in May or September. As the country is well known for its romance with puppetry and marionettes travelers tend to time their visit with some puppet festival. Visitors enjoy Prague at all times in all seasons – Charles bridge, Old Town square, Art Gallery, Prague Castle are a start to exploring this lovely city. Nature lovers will get immense pleasure when exploring the back roads of this country. Czech cuisine is marked by a strong emphasis on meat dishes. Pork, beef, and chicken along with goose, duck, rabbit and wild game are regular features. Kofola is a non-alcoholic domestic soft drink. The national dish is Vepro-knedlo-zelo.


ResourceISBN or ASINBest PriceDescription
Rick Steves’ Prague and the Czech Republic978-1598803778$13Starts with an excellent practical traveler information covering 26 pages, followed by coverage of Prague and day trips. Ideal companion guide for moderately priced travel!
Prague Eyewitness Travel Guides978-0756660499$17Excellent source for Prague information. Photos, illustrations, and maps are the standout feature of this guide. Sections on day trips and guided walks.
Michelin Map Czech & Slovak Republic978-2067123076$111:600,000 Scale. City maps of Prague and Bratislava, the capital cities. Shows driving times and distances.
Czech Grounded Adapter Plug – GUBB001FDA89E$8


Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakian Republic at the time) were an imperforate set of ten stamps issued between 1918 and 1919 showing the Hradcany at Prague. The set (Scott #1 to #10) is remarkably inexpensive and catalogs for less than $10 MNH and around $2 for used. Hradcany is the central district in Prague termed the Castle District – it is the area surrounding the Prague Castle, the 9th century structure that is said to be the biggest castle in the world. The district is dotted with a number of attractions including palaces, and great lookouts.

Czechoslovakia released a set of eleven stamps between 1926 and 1927 primarily showing local scenes. The set (Scott #114 to #122) catalogs for around $25 MNH and $5 used. The designs show Karlstein Castle, Pernstein Castle, Orava Castle, Masaryk, Strahov Monastery, Hradcany at Prague, and Great Tatra. This was followed by a similar set of stamps in 1928 to mark the 10th anniversary of Czech independence. That set (Scott #142 to #151) catalogs for around $7 MNH and $5 Used. The designs show Hradec Castle, Town Hall of Levoca, Telephone exchange of Prague, Town of Jasina, Hluboka Castle, Brno Cathedral, Masaryk, Great Tatra, and Old City Square in Prague.

Other issues of Czech Republic enjoying good philatelic interest include:
  1. A souvenir sheet released on October 18, 1952 during the National Philatelic Exhibition at Bratislava. The souvenir sheet (Scott #556) catalogs for around $110 MNH and $18 used. There are two stamps (556a and 556b) in the souvenir sheet and separately they catalog for $25 MNH and $7 used. The designs show Statues to Bulgarian Partisans and to Soviet Army. Bulgarian partisans played an active role in the last phases of World War II while Soviet army was directly responsible for a lot of the Czechoslovakian territories.
  2. A set of seven stamps released on November 16, 1959 in the Birds theme. The set (Scott #942 to #948) catalogs for around $15 MNH and $3 used. The designs show great spotted woodpecker, blue tits, nuthatch, golden oriole, goldfinch, bullfinch, and European kingfisher.
  3. A miniature sheet released on November 25, 1975 to mark President Ludvik Svoboda’s 80th birthday. The sheet (Scott #2042) catalogs for around $10 MNH or used. The design shows a sketch of President Ludvik Svoboda, Road Map – Buzuluk to Prague, and Carnations. Ludvik Svoboda was a Czechoslovak national hero and general who fought in both World Wars. He was President of Czechoslovakia between 1968 and 1975.
  4. A sheet of two stamps released on April 12, 1985 to mark Project Vega. The stamp (Scott #2554) catalogs for around $8 MNH and $7 used. The design shows the emblem, space platform, interstellar map, and intercept data. The Vega program was a cooperative effort among the Soviet Union, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, GDR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, and the Federal Republic of Germany launched in December 1984 with the purpose of doing a series of Venus missions and to study Comet Halley during its 1985-1986 perihelion (point nearest to Sun). The missions Vega 1 and Vega 2 were successful and the spacecrafts currently are in heliocentric (around the Sun) orbits.
Numismatic Profile:

The first coins of Czech Republic were Aluminum Halerus (100 Haleru = 1 Koruna) issued in 1993. Prior to the formation of Czech Republic in 1993, coins of Czechoslovakia were in use. From 1997 onwards, Czech Republic started issuing proof year sets for collectors. Commemorative gold and silver coins are also issued.


ItemPrice RangeDescription
Coins$2 and upCommon Halerus from the 1990s in UNC start around $2. Boxed silver proofs from the 2000s start around $40 and go into the $100 range.
Exonumia$40 and upBronze medals from the 19th century and prior dates start around $40. Art medals from the 50s, recent composer medal proofs, etc go well into the 100s.
Paper Money$5 and upBanknotes in UNC from the 1950s onward starts around $5. High Values (500 Koruns and up) from the 90s onward start around $40. Bundles and errors such as misprints start into the 100s.


Collectible Memorabilia:

Czech liquors Fernet stock and Becherovka,  jewelry, marionettes, wooden toys, Czech glass, crystal and porcelain, Easter eggs are all sought-after souvenirs.


ResourcePrice RangeDescription
Mineral Specimens$10 and upMoldavite specimens start around $10. Curios from moldavite carvings can go into the 100s.
Beer labels and cans$1 and upStarts around $1 but can go up to the 30s.
Glass Curios$5 and upCrystal wine glasses start around $5 for six. Crystal vases start around $20. Frosted glass vases start around $40. Art glass items start around $100.
Art$10 and upPhoto prints start around $10. Lithographs of folk costumes and original art start in the $100 range.
Antiques$10 and up19th century maps and old documents start around $10 and go into the 100s for 18th century or prior counterparts.



Last Updated: 12/2015.

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