Slovakia 1939 20 korun
In 1938, by the Munich Agreement, Nazi Germany forced Czechoslovakia to surrender the Sudetenland. The next year, the Nazis occupied the Czech portion of the rump state and granted the Slovak portion "independence" after Hungary had snipped off a southern strip. Jozef Tiso served as president of the puppet regime and enthusiastically participated in the Holocaust. This specimen was lot 3255 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 19,000 CHF (about US$22,772 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SLOWAKIA, Slovakische Republik, 1939-1945. 20 Korun 1939, Kremnitz. Probeprägung. Durchmesser 24.8 mm. Von grösster Seltenheit. NGC MS62. Feine Patina. (republic of Slovakia, 1939-45, twenty korun of 1939, Kremnitz mint, pattern strike, 24.8 mm diameter. Of the highest rarity, Nicely toned.)"
This pattern eventually went into production as KM 7 in 1941. Slovakia was occupied by the German army after the Slovak National Uprising in August 1944 and the puppet regime collapsed.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.500 fine silver, this specimen 6.16 g, 24.8 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM E1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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