The larger of Czechoslovakia’s two «Stalin» coins: the 100 korun entered circulation on the same day as the 50 korun, 21 December 1949, exactly on the Soviet leader’s 70th birthday.

The reverse portrait is by Otakar Španiel, the leading medallist of Czechoslovak commemoratives of the late 1940s: a left-facing bust of Stalin with «J.V.STALIN» and the date «21·XII·1949» around the rim. The obverse follows the common pattern of the series, the Czech lion with the Slovak shield, the value «100» and «REPUBLIKA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ», and the plain edge bears alternating six-pointed stars and wavy lines.

The government order authorising the issue names it a commemoration of Generalissimo Stalin’s 70th birthday and prescribes the portrait for both denominations. The hundred had a mintage of 1,000,000. The currency reform of 1953 took these coins out of circulation.

Larger than the 50 korun, the hundred gives the portrait more room, which makes it a natural centrepiece for a collection on the personality cult and early Cold War issues of Eastern Europe. It holds its own place in the run of Czechoslovak commemorative korun of 1947–1951, and paired with the 50 korun of the same day it completes the story.

In F-VF the coin has circulated: wear is even and visible on the high points of the portrait, but the features, the name and the date are clear.

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