| Description : Constantine (∼826‐869) and Michael (∼815‐885),
known as Cyril and Method(ius) were two Byzantine brothers from Thessaloniki. In preparation for their mission
to Prince Ratislav's West Slavic Great Moravia they created the Glagolitic alphabet based on the Greek alphabet, but with
borrowings from Armenian, Georgian and Semitic writing systems. They began to write Slavic languages and translated large
parts of the Bible into Slavic. From 863 as part of the Byzantine Mission they brought Orthodoxy and helped to give
full sovereignty and legitimacy to the first Slavic state in Central Europe. Today they are venerated as "Slavic Apostles".
Miroslav Hric's coin design was initially rejected by the EU because of its religious imagery. A Byzantine double cross
(or "Slovak Cross") is held as though it were a bishop's crook (above the trimount), linking a state symbol with a
Christian symbol. Constantine holds a book in his hands signifying education and faith, while Method is depicted with a
stylised church symbolising faith and institutional Christianity. Directly above the motif are the names
"KONŠTANTÍN" and "METOD" with the issuing country "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia) at the bottom, and the dates
"863·2013" on the right. To the left are the designer's abbreviated initials "mh" and on the right the mint mark
"MK" between two embossing stamps of the Slovak mint Mincovňa Kremnica š.p. in Kremnica. |
