50 CZK #145

Front

St. Agnes of Bohemia (Svatá Anežka Česká, c. 1211–1282), daughter of King Ottokar I of Bohemia and a Poor Clare nun who founded the first hospital in Prague and the Order of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star. She was canonized in 1989, shortly before the Velvet Revolution, and became a powerful symbol of Czech national and spiritual identity. The Sacred Heart with flames appears as a devotional emblem above the text.

Back

The coat of arms of the Czech Republic, featuring the quartered shield with the Bohemian lion (upper left and lower right), the Moravian eagle (upper right), and the Silesian eagle (lower left). Below, an open book and stylized architectural motif referencing medieval Czech manuscripts and Gothic architecture, reflecting the cultural and religious heritage associated with St. Agnes.

History

This note is from the first series of the Czech koruna, issued on 8 February 1993 following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993. The series was designed to establish a distinct Czech national identity and featured prominent historical and religious figures. The 50-koruna note honors St. Agnes of Bohemia, whose canonization in 1989 was seen as a spiritual catalyst for the peaceful revolution. The note was withdrawn from circulation on 1 April 2011 when a new polymer series replaced the original paper notes. The printer imprint 'S ONDRÁČEK INV.' (designer) and 'M. ONDRÁČEK SC.' (engraver) appear on the front.