Universities were from their inception seen as vanguards of education and science and as exemplifying the cultural progress of nation and state. Slovakia’s first university-type institution – Comenius University in Bratislava – began operation at the end of 1919, when the Faculty of Medicine opened its doors to Slovak students. The Faculty of Law and Faculty of Philosophy were established in 1921 and the Faculty of Science in 1940. Teachers and academics from Czech institutions, in particular Charles University in Prague, together with their Slovak colleagues, played a significant role in establishing Comenius University as the leading educational institution in Slovakia. Comenius University is today an internationally recognised centre of education and research, with 13 faculties and almost 24,000 students.

Obverse:

The collector coin’s obverse design depicts a book laid open and, just above it, a sun emitting rays of light. The sun image, part of the logo of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Comenius University in Bratislava, is overarched by two semicircular lines, one below the other, whose ends are at each edge of the open book. The Slovak coat of arms is situated just above the lower edge. Between it and the book is the name of the issuing country ‘SLOVENSKO’ and the year of issuance ‘2019’, one above the other. To the left of the coat of arms is the currency denomination, ‘10’, and to the right is the currency name, ‘EURO’. Inscribed in semicircle around most of the outer edge of the design is the University’s Latin name ‘UNIVERSITAS COMENIANA BRATISLAVENSIS’.

Reverse:

The reverse design is centred on the main elements of the logos of the University’s three original faculties: Philosophy, Medicine and Law. Spaced equidistantly along the edge of this composition are the words ‘JURIDICA’, ‘PHILOSOPHICA’ and ‘MEDICA’. Inscribed in semicircle around most of the outer edge of the design are the words ‘UNIVERZITA KOMENSKÉHO V BRATISLAVE’ (Comenius University in Bratislava). Above the lower edge is the year of the University’s establishment ‘1919’. To the left of that year is the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremnica), consisting of the letters ‘MK’ placed between two dies; to the right are the stylised letters ‘PK’ referring to the obverse designer, Patrik Kovačovský.