The koruna, or crown (sign: Kč; code: CZK, ), has been the currency of the Czech Republic since 1993. The koruna is one of the European Union's seven currencies, and the Czech Republic is legally bound to adopt the euro once it satisfies the convergence criteria.
The official name in Czech is (plural , though the zero-suffixed genitive plural form is used on banknotes and coins of value 5 Kč or higher). The ISO 4217 code is CZK and the local acronym is Kč, which is placed after the numeric value (e.g., "50 Kč") or sometimes before it (as is seen on the 10-koruna coin). One crown is made up of 100 hellers (abbreviated as "h", official name in Czech: singular: , nominative plural: , genitive plural: – used with numbers higher or equal to 5 – e.g. ), but hellers have now been withdrawn from circulation, and the smallest unit of physical currency is 1 Kč.
History In 1892, the Austro-Hungarian krone replaced the gulden at the rate of two kronen to one gulden (which is also the reason why the 10 Kč coin had been nicknamed or "fiver" - and has been in use in informal conversation up until nowadays). The name was suggested by the emperor, Franz Joseph I of Austria. After Austria-Hungary dissolved in 1918, Czechoslovakia was the only successor state to retain the name of its imperial-era currency. During the Second World War, the currency on the occupied Czech territory was artificially weakened. The Czechoslovak crown was restored after the war. It underwent a highly controversial monetary reform in 1953.
The Czech koruna replaced the Czechoslovak koruna in 1993 after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. It first consisted of overstamped 20 Kčs, 50 Kčs, 100 Kčs, 500 Kčs, and 1,000 Kčs banknotes, and a new series was properly introduced in 1993.
In November 2013, the Czech National Bank (ČNB) intervened to weaken the exchange rate of the koruna through a monetary stimulus to stop the currency from excessive strengthening. This was meant to support the Czech economy, mainly focused on export, but people were unhappy about this step because it was set up before Christmas, which led to raising the prices of imported goods. In late 2016, the ČNB stated that the return to conventional monetary policy was planned for mid-2017. After higher-than-expected inflation and other figures, the national bank removed the cap at a special monetary meeting on 6 April 2017. The koruna avoided significant volatility and City Index Group stated: "If you want to drop a currency peg, then the ČNB can show you how to do it".
Euro adoption discussion
The Czech Republic planned to adopt the euro in 2010, but its government suspended that plan indefinitely in 2005. Although the country is economically well positioned to adopt the euro, there is considerable opposition to the move within the Czech Republic. According to a survey conducted in April 2014, only 16% of the Czech population was in favour of replacing the koruna with the euro. As reported by an April 2018 survey by CVVM (Public Opinion Research Center), this value remained at nearly identical levels between 2014 and 2018, with only 20% of the Czech population above 15 years old supporting euro adoption.
Coins
The coins of the Czech koruna increase in size and weight with value.
In 1993, coins were introduced in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 haléřů (h), 1 Kč, 2 Kč, 5 Kč, 10 Kč, 20 Kč and 50 Kč. The 10 h and 20 h coins were taken out of circulation by 31 October 2003 and the 50 h coins by 31 August 2008 due to their diminishing purchasing power and circulation. However, financial amounts are still written with the accuracy of 1-haléř (CZK 0.01); prices in retail shops are usually multiples of CZK 0.10. When cash transactions are made, the amount is rounded to the nearest integer.
In 2000, the 10 Kč and 20 Kč coins were minted with different obverses to commemorate the millennium. In 1993 and 1994, coins were minted in Winnipeg and Hamburg, then in the Czech Republic. The 10 Kč and 50 Kč coins were designed by (1934–2007).
Since 1997, sets for collectors have also been issued yearly with proof-quality coins. In addition, there is a tradition of issuing commemorative coins – including silver and gold coins – for numismatic purposes.
For a complete listing, see Commemorative coins of the Czech Republic.
Current series Current series (1993)Czech national bank. Available at: Image Value Technical parameters Description Issuedfrom Withdrawal Diameter(mm) Thickness(mm) Mass(g) Composition Edge Obverse Reverse 10 h 15.50 1.70 0.60 Aluminium: 99%Magnesium: 1% Smooth Czech lion;year of issue;lettering: Value; Stylized river 1993 2003 20 h 17.00 0.74 Reeded Value; Linden leaf 1993 1997 50 h 19.00 0.90 Interruptedreeding Value 1993 2008 1 Kč 20.00 1.85 3.60 Nickel-platedsteel Reeded Value;St. Wenceslas crown Current 2 Kč 21.50 3.70 Smooth Value;Great Moravian gombik 5 Kč 23.00 4.80 Value;Charles Bridge, Vltava,linden leaf 10 Kč 24.50 2.55 7.62 Copper-platedsteel Reeded Value;St. Peter and Paulcathedral, Brno 20 Kč 26.00 8.43 Brass-platedsteel Smooth St. Wenceslas statue;Lettering: 50 Kč 27.50 9.70 Outer:Copper-platedsteel Prague; Lettering: 17.00 Inner:Brass-platedsteel
Circulating commemorative coins Circulating commemorative coins Image Value Technical parameters Description Issue Diameter(mm) Thickness(mm) Mass(g) Composition Edge Obverse Reverse 10 Kč 24.50 2.55 7.62 Copper-platedsteel Reeded Czech lion;year of issue;lettering: Clock mechanism; value;Lettering: 2000 20 Kč 26.00 8.43 Brass-platedsteel Smooth Astrolabe; value;Lettering: Edvard Beneš; value 2018 Milan Rastislav Štefánik; value Tomáš Masaryk; value Alois Rašín; value 2019 Karel Engliš; value Vilém Pospíšil; value
Banknotes The first Czech banknotes were issued on 8 February 1993 and consisted of Czechoslovak notes with adhesive stamps affixed to them. Only the 100 Kčs, 500 Kčs and 1,000 Kčs notes were overstamped, the lower denominations circulated unchanged during this transitional period. Each stamp bears a Roman and Arabic numeral identifying the denomination of the banknote to which it is affixed (C and 100, D and 500, M and 1,000). Subsequent issues of the 1,000 Kč note replaced the adhesive stamp with a printed image of same.
A newly designed series of banknotes in denominations of 20 Kč, 50 Kč, 100 Kč, 200 Kč, 500 Kč, 1,000 Kč and 5,000 Kč were introduced later in 1993 and the designs are still in use at present – except for 20 Kč, 50 Kč and the first versions of 1,000 Kč and 5,000 Kč notes, since the security features of 1,000 Kč and 5,000 Kč notes were upgraded in the subsequent issues. These banknotes, designed by Oldřich Kulhánek, feature renowned Czech persons on the obverse and abstract compositions on the reverse. Modern protective elements can be found on all banknotes.
In 2007, the Czech National Bank started issuing new upgraded banknotes with upgraded security features. These include a new colour-shifting security thread, additional watermarks and EURion constellations. The first denomination to be issued with the new features was the 2,000 Kč, followed by the 1,000 Kč in 2008, the 500 Kč and 5,000 Kč in 2009 and finally ending with the issuance of the 100 Kč and 200 Kč notes in 2018. In 2022, all older versions of the 100-2000 Kč notes without the upgraded security features were withdrawn.
In practice, the 5000 Kč is not commonly found in circulation due to them being prone to misuse or illicit activity (e.g., money laundering). As of December 2025, there were 24.4 million of those banknotes in circulation. In contrast, the next-highest denomination, the 2000 Kč, is the most widely circulated banknote in the country, with 209.7 million in circulation.
Stamped series Image Value Dimensions Main colour Language Description Date ofObverse Reverse Obverse Reverse printing issue withdrawalCzechoslovak banknotes 10 Kčs 133 × 67 Brown Slovak Pavol Országh-Hviezdoslav Orava scene 1986 7 February 1993 31 July 1993 20 Kčs 138 × 67 Blue Czech Comenius Illustration related to culture and education 1988 50 Kčs 143 × 67 Red Slovak Ľudovít Štúr View of Bratislava with the castle (from the restaurant on the top of the pylon of the Nový Most) 1987Overstamped Czechoslovak banknotes 100 Kč 165 × 81 Green Czech Peasant and worker View of Prague with the castle and the Charles Bridge 1961 7 February 1993 31 August 1993 500 Kč 153 × 67 Brown Slovak Partisans of the SNP 1944 Devín Castle 1973 1,000 Kč 158 × 67 Blue Czech Bedřich Smetana View of the Vltava at Vyšehrad 1985
First series First series (1993) Image Value Dimensions(mm) Maincolour Description Issue Withdrawn Lapse Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse 20 Kč 128 × 64 Blue Otakar I Ottokar's crownGolden Bull of Sicily seal 20 April 1994 31 August 2008 31 August 2014 50 Kč 134 × 64 Red Agnes of Bohemia St. Salvator's church;Convent of St. Agnes 6 October 1993 31 January 2007 31 March 2017 21 December 1994 31 March 2011 10 September 1997 100 Kč 140 × 69 Turquoise Charles IV Charles University seal 30 June 1993 31 January 2007 Indefinite 21 June 1995 1 July 2022 15 October 1997 200 Kč 146 × 69 Orange John Amos Comenius Orbis Pictus;Joined hands 8 February 1993 31 January 2007 14 August 1996 1 July 2022 6 January 1999 500 Kč 152 × 69 Brown Božena Němcová Laureate woman 21 July 1993 31 January 2007 27 December 1995 1 July 2022 18 March 1998 1000 Kč 158 × 74 Violet František Palacký Archbishop's Castle,Kroměříž; eagle 12 May 1993 30 June 2001 6 December 1996 1 July 2022 2000 Kč 164 × 74 Green Emmy Destinn Euterpe;violin, cello 1 October 1996 1 December 1999 5000 Kč 170 × 74 Grey Tomáš Masaryk St. Vitus Cathedral;Gothic and Baroquebuildings, Prague 15 December 1993 30 June 2001 8 September 1999 Current
Upgraded series Upgraded series (1993) Image Value Dimensions(mm) Maincolour Description Issue Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse 100 Kč 140 × 69 Turquoise Charles IV Charles University seal 5 September 2018 200 Kč 146 × 69 Orange John Amos Comenius Orbis PictusJoined hands 500 Kč 152 × 69 Brown Božena Němcová Laureate woman 1 April 2009 1000 Kč 158 × 74 Violet František Palacký Archbishop's Castle,Kroměříž; eagle 1 April 2008 2000 Kč 164 × 74 Green Emmy Destinn Euterpe;violin and cello 2 July 2007 5000 Kč 170 × 74 Grey Tomáš Masaryk St. Vitus Cathedral;Gothic and Baroquebuildings, Prague 1 December 2009 23 October 2023
Commemorative series Commemorative banknotes Image Value Dimensions(mm) Maincolour Description Issue Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse 100 Kč 140 × 69 Turquoise Charles IVoverprint on watermark area Charles University seal 30 January 2019 100 Kč 194 × 84 Gold Alois Rašín Czech National Bank building 31 January 2019 100 Kč 194 × 84 Olive green Karel Engliš Clam-Gallas Palace 30 March 2022 1000 Kč 158 × 74 Violet František Palacký,overprint on watermark area Archbishop's Castle,Kroměříž; eagle 8 February 2023
Exchange rates Historic rates
The currency had a record exchange rate run in 2008.
+Most traded currencies (since 31 December 2008)Year US dollar Euro Sterling Swiss franc Yen2008 19.346 26.930 28.270 18.132 0.213482009 18.368 26.465 29.798 17.837 0.198752010 18.751 25.060 29.108 20.043 0.230582011 19.940 25.800 30.886 21.220 0.257542012 19.055 25.140 30.812 20.831 0.221302013 19.894 27.425 32.911 22.344 0.189572014 22.834 27.725 35.591 23.058 0.190902015 24.824 27.025 36.822 24.930 0.206192016 25.639 27.020 31.586 25.166 0.219072017 21.291 25.540 28.786 21.824 0.189152018 22.466 25.725 28.762 22.827 0.204472019 22.621 25.410 29.866 23.416 0.208442020 21.381 26.245 29.190 24.298 0.207472021 21.951 24.860 29.585 24.066 0.190692022 22.616 24.115 27.200 24.496 0.171522023 22.376 24.725 28.447 26.688 0.158112024 24.237 25.185 30.378 26.768 0.15449 Source: Czech National Bank exchange ratesCzech national bank exchange rate fixing. Available at:
Current rates
See also Bohemia and Moravia crown Commemorative coins of the Czech Republic Czech Republic and the euro Czechoslovak koruna