Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2013, KM# 128, Slovakia, 1150th Anniversary of the Mission of Cyril and Methodius to the Great Moravia
  • 2 Euro 2013, KM# 128, Slovakia, 1150th Anniversary of the Mission of Cyril and Methodius to the Great Moravia
Description

In 862, Saints Cyril and Methodius began the work which would give them their historical importance. That year Prince Rastislav of Great Moravia requested that Emperor Michael III and the Patriarch Photius send missionaries to evangelize his Slavic subjects. His motives in doing so were probably more political than religious. Rastislav had become king with the support of the Frankish ruler Louis the German, but subsequently sought to assert his independence from the Franks. It is a common misconception that Cyril and Methodius were the first to bring Christianity to Moravia.

Saints Cyril and Methodius were Byzantine Greek brothers born in Thessaloniki in the 9th century. They were Christian missionaries among the Slavic peoples of the First Bulgarian Empire, Great Moravia, and Pannonia. Through their work they influenced the cultural development of all Slavs, for which they received the title "Apostles to the Slavs". They are credited with devising the Glagolitic alphabet, the first alphabet used to transcribe Old Church Slavonic.

Obverse

Depicts the Thessalonian brothers Cyril (born Constantine) and Methodius along with the symbolic double cross stood on three hills. The cross is at the same time held as a Bishop's crozier, thereby linking together symbols of statehood and Christianity and emphasising the significance of the brothers' mission, which helped ensure the full sovereignty and legitimacy of Great Moravia – the first Slav state in central Europe. The figure of Constantine is holding a book representing education and faith, while Methodius is shown with a church symbolising faith and institutional Christianity.

Along the lower edge of the inner part of the coin is the name of the issuing country "SLOVAKIA", the year "863" and the year "2013", with a dividing mark between each. Along the upper edge of the inner part are the names "CONSTANTINE" and "METHODIUS". To the left of the brothers are the stylised letters "mh", the initials of the coin's designer, and to the right is the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint, comprising the letters "MK" placed between two dies. The coin's outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European Union.

Designer: Miroslav Hric

KONŠTANTÍN METOD
mh MK
·SLOVENSKO·863·2013·

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

Slovak Republic in Slovak with two stars and linden leaf between

★ SLOVENSKÁ REPUBLIKA ★

2 Euro

1150th Anniversary of the Mission of Cyril and Methodius to the Great Moravia

KM# 128 Schön# 121
Swap now (5 offers)
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Kremnica Mint (MK)

Related coins

Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm
20th Anniversary of the Start of the Velvet Revolution

Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm