100 Years of the First Blood Transfusion

A balanced circular composition built around a repeating rhythm of concentric rings. At the centre of the innermost circle sits a cross with blood group symbols. Set within it is a three-tiered repeating outline with a prominent blood drop, which ties together the coin's overall symbolism. The central circle alternates fragments of test tubes with stylised blood drops. Around the outer edge run the commemorative inscription 'PRVÁ TRANSFÚZJA KRVI', the dates '1923 & 2023', and the issuing state 'SLOVENSKO'.

The history of blood transfusion is one of the most consequential chapters in modern medicine. After early experiments in the 17th century failed and were forgotten for centuries, it was only the discovery of blood groups by Karl Landsteiner in 1901 and the development of anticoagulants during the First World War that made safe transfusions in humans possible. In Czechoslovakia, these scientific advances were quickly taken up: in 1923, doctors in Bratislava carried out the first documented blood transfusion on the territory of what is now the Slovak state — a medical milestone that fundamentally changed clinical care in the country and laid the foundation for a modern transfusion system.

Slovakia today has a well-developed national blood donation and transfusion system built on these early beginnings. Transfusion medicine has since become an integral part of Slovak healthcare — from treating severely injured patients to cancer treatment and complex surgery. In 2023, the Slovak Republic marked the centenary of this pioneering achievement, honouring blood transfusion as a medical and social accomplishment while also drawing attention to the ongoing importance of blood donation as an act of solidarity.