The 2000 Koruna (CZK) note is released by the Czech National Bank and is the 5th largest denomination among current notes. The other denominations are 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000. The Koruna (translates to Crown in English), has been serving as the national currency since 1993 and is one of the European Union’s eight non-Euro currencies. Czechia will eventually adopt the Euro however no target date has been established. Based on polls conducted within the past 10 years, only about 20% of those surveyed were in favor of the Euro adoption.

The 2000 note is made from paper material, it measures 164 x 74 mm and is the second largest within the series.

Obverse

The obverse is host to opera singer Ema Destinnová, a Lyre, and Laurels. A watermark of the singer is visible on the left panel of the note. Ema Destinnová (1878 – 1930), adopted the surname Destinnová (as a tribute to her teacher who actually bore the name), is considered as one of the greatest opera singers of the 19th and 20th centuries. She was known for being a dramatic soprano. Her career spanned nearly three decades and encompassed performing in Europe as well as the United States of America.

The note is replete with security features including a windowed 3-mm wide metallic strip with the microtext “ČNB 2000 Kč”, depicting the issuing authority’s abbreviation, the denomination and currency name code. The Lyre’s strings possess color shifting properties (from gold to green), when the note is angled to and away from the light source. Another feature is a 20-mm wide iridescent strip located on the right side of Destinnová head running full length from the northern and southern margins. On the left panel around the watermark, are visible colored fibers (6-mm in length), enriching the note’s layers of authenticity.

Reverse

The reverse bears the head of the Muse of Music in concert with a violin and a cello uplifted by laurels, a Lyre and the Czech Coat of Arms. The note’s serial number appears in two locations, running vertically on the left panel and then horizontally near the lower center in ascending characters. The watermark is visible on the right panel just above the Lyre. An area consisting of micro text is located to the right of the Coat of Arms indicative of the note’s denomination. The violin may be symbolic of Destinnová’s early musical career as a violinist prior to changing course and becoming a vocalist.

My Two Cents

The 2000 Koruna is a note of artistic grandeur capturing an opera icon whose portrait possesses a magnifying presence compounded by intricate decor, and a color combination (of olive green and purple), that warrants additional glances. Aside from its larger size (among banknotes at large), a distinguishing feature that draws attention to its appearance, I had not observed the true richness of this note until I had inspected it closer. There’s greatness here much like Ema Destinnová and the glory of her career, although there is also something somber about the note, perhaps in the portrait of the great soprano whose career and life both met untimely ends. All in, the note shares an impactful narrative, boasts an impressive appearance and stands out among the series’ sister notes.