FIRST COMMEMORATIVE COINS OF UKRAINE

The National Bank of Ukraine has issued its first six commemorative coins. They are made form cupronickel alloy, proof-like, 33 mm in diameter, weighing 14.35 grams. Denomination of each is 200.000 Ukrainian korbovantsi. On the face side (obverse) of each coin, in the circle formed by a necklace pattern, is a small National Emblem of Ukraine framed on both sides by guilder rose twigs. “1995” is inscribed over the National Emblem, in two rows round the circle, is inscribed “200.000”, and at the top is the legend “NATIONAL BANK OF UKRAINE” and the word “KORBOVANTSI.»

The first commemorative coin (1), put into circulation on May 7, 1995, is dedicated to the fiftieth anniversary of the Victory in World War 2. On the reverse, in the center, is the ensemble of St. Sophia Square in Kiev – St. Sophia Cathedral and the Monument to Bogdan Khmelnitsky. In the foreground on the right, against the background of the Cathedral, is the figure of young woman with flowers dressed in the national Ukrainian costume symbolizing young independent Ukraine, bowing her head to the eternal flame of the peoples’ memory of those who perished in WW II. Round the circle at the top of the coin is inscribed: “Victory in Great Patriotic War.» At the bottom under the horizontal line are the digits “1941-1945”.

The NBU’s second commemorative coin (2), dedicated to the 400^th anniversary of the birth of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, Hetman of Ukraine who led the Cossack Revolution against Polish rule, was put into circulation on July 19, 1995. On the reverse side of the coin in the center is the Bogdan Khmelnitsky Monument in St. Sophia Square. Around the circle are inscriptions: “BOGDAN KHMELNITSKY 1595-1657.»

On August 28,1995, the National Bank of Ukraine put into circulation four commemorative coins, dedicated to the hero-cities of Ukraine during the Second World War – Kiev, Odessa, Sevastopol, and Kerch. On the reverse of the coin are the following representations.

The first hero-city coin (3), dedicated to Kiev, has in the center against the background of the Dnieper and the city’s left bank the main section of the Eternal Glory Park Memorial – the Glory Obelisk at the grave of the Unknown Soldier and the adjoining the Alley of Perished Heroes with the graves of defenders and liberations of the city. On the left of the obelisk is a depletion of the Church of Our Savior at Berestowe, the Great Bell Tower of Kiev’s Monastery of the Caves, trees, and ornamental Bushes. On the left, a chestnut twig with leaves and tree blooms. The inscription reads: “HERO-CITY OF KIEV 1941-1945.»

The second hero-city coin (4), dedicated to Odessa, has the Unknown Soldier Monument in the center. To the left and right of the monument, against background of sea waves, is the section of the seaport with port cranes, a ship at the morning, and Odessa’s lighthouse. The inscription reds: “HERO-CITY OF ODESSA 1941-1945.”

The third hero-city coin (5) is dedicated to Sevastopol. In the center is the obelisk to the hero-city. On the left, against the background of sea waves, as a tribute to its heroic tradition, is the monuments to the ship scuttled during the defence of Sevastopol (1854-55). On the right are tree rows of sea waves with a modern ship’s silhouette above. And the inscription: “THE HERO-CITY OF SEVASTOPOL 1941-19945.”

Finally, the hero-city coin of Kerch (6). The Obelisk of Glory in the center, with Mr. Mithridates on top. In the background: the sea with two wavy lines broken by the obelisk. Above and to the left is a light cloud; to the right, on the horizon line, a tanker with a sea-gull above. The inscription reads: “HERO-CITY OF KERCH 1941-1945 ”

In January 1995, Ukraine’s commemorative coins were displayed at the 25^th Basel European Coin Convention.

Date: 2015-01-29; view: 617