© Slovak Post, 2006 The mining of copper ore and the use of copper in the territory of Slovakia dates as far back as the Eneolithic period. It was used for the production of various decorations, warriors’ sledgehammers, daggers, etc. Later in the Copper Age, copper was the main component for the production of bronze – copper-tin alloy. The underground mining of copper and its processing experienced the greatest boom in our territory in the Middle Ages, when the Banská Bystrica region became the centre of copper mining – mainly the surrounding mining settlements of Staré Hory, Špania Dolina, Piesky, and Richtárová. Since the 14th century copper was exported from the Banská Bystrica region through major European trade centres such as Bruges, Venice, Antwerp, Gdansk, and Lisbon. In 1494 a copper production company was established in Banská Bystrica (Banskobystrický mediarsky podnik). This plant represented the basic manufacturing station of a Hungarian trading company belonging to Thurza and Fugger families. Owing to the organisational and business strategy of its founders – Ján Thurza and Jakob Fugger – the copper production company in Banská Bystrica was at its establishment a unique organisation at European level. Copper was often used as an attribute of Banská Bystrica, as the saying including other Slovak mining towns proves: Golden Kremnica, Silver Štiavnica, Copper Bystrica. The ancient measure of capacity of the town of Banská Bystrica is made of high-quality copper produced in Banská Bystrica. It is 23 cm high with the mouth measuring 9.8 cm and the bottom 11 cm in diameter. It bears a relief of the coat-of-arms of Banská Bystrica on its front and the engraved year of 1576. In 1891, this measure was deposited in the Town Museum of Banská Bystrica, established in 1889. Previously it had been kept in the town archive. In 1900, the measure represented the town of Banská Bystrica and the Town Museum at an International Exhibition held in Paris. At present, it is shown as one of the most valuable items at the Museum of Central Slovakia located in the Thurza house on the square in Banská Bystrica. The motif on the FDC portrays the coat-of-arms of the free royal mining town of Banská Bystrica, as shown on the town seal from the 15th century. Vladimír Sklenka