Within the framework of celebration of the International Museum Day on 18 May 2015, the presentation of commemorative coins put into circulation in 2014 - 2015 took place at the Money Museum of the National Bank of Ukraine.
From the NBU, the event was attended by Ms Oksana Halyts, Deputy Director of Currency Circulation Department, Ms Tamara Loshmanova, Numismatic Production and Marketing Division Chief, Ms Viktoriia Suzanska, Numismatic Production and Marketing Deputy Division Chief, and Ms Nataliia Hordiienko, the Money Museum Director.
As Ms Oksana Halyts stressed, the history of issuance by the National Bank of Ukraine of commemorative coins started 20 years ago, when in May 1995 the first cupronickel commemorative coin, dedicated to 50 years of victory in the Great Patriotic War, was put into circulation. She noted that the mintage of first coin at the Banknote Printing and Minting Works of the National Bank of Ukraine in early 1998, was the gold commemorative coin “Kyiv Psalmbook”, dedicated to the sixth centenary of the unique monument of writing and art.
“Commemorative coins represent the state at the global level, provide insight into its history, traditions, culture and modern age, - said Ms Oksana Halyts, Deputy Director of Currency Circulation Department. - In 20 years, the National Bank of Ukraine has put in circulation 650 commemorative coins made of gold, silver and German silver”.
She told that the topics of commemorative coins are of outstanding diversity: coins are dedicated to famous personalities and historic events, monuments of the Ukrainian history, sport culture, nature etc. Currently, there are 31 series of coins: “Spiritual Treasures of Ukraine”, “Rebirth of Ukrainian Statehood”, “Outstanding Personalities of Ukraine”, “Ancient Cities of Ukraine”, “Architectural Monuments of Ukraine”, “Famous Families of Ukraine”, “Heroes of Cossack Age”, “Dukes of Ukraine”, “Flora and Fauna of Ukraine” and other.
National Bank of Ukraine on yearly basis puts into circulation nearly forty commemorative coins on average. In 2014, 43 coins were issued, including 16 of silver, 10 bimetallic and 17 of German silver. The total number of coins issued in 2014 made 700.5 thousand pieces, including 100.5 thousand pieces made of precious metals.
From the beginning of 2015, 12 commemorative coins are already put into circulation, including three silver coins and nine German silver coins, and the total number of coins made 367 thousand pieces. Overall, 36 commemorative coins of Ukraine are planned to be issued in 2015.
Ms. Viktoriia Suzanska, Deputy Head of Numismatic Production and Marketing Division, Cash Circulation Department, informed the representatives of mass media in detail on the most interesting commemorative coins put into circulation in 2014 - 2015.
She told that with the coins issued in 2014, the National Bank of Ukraine commemorated such significant events as 200th Anniversary of birth of Taras Shevchenko, prominent Ukrainian poet, artist and thinker; 120th Anniversary of birth of Oleksandr Dovzhenko; 70th Anniversary of Ukraine’s Liberation (for example, coin “Korsun-Shevchenkovsky Offensive”); 180th Anniversary of the National University named after Taras Shevchenko. The “Oblast of Ukraine” series was continued. The “Outstanding Personalities of Ukraine” series was added with coins dedicated to Anna Yaroslavna, a Kyiv duchess, the middle daughter of the Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise; Vasyl Lypkivskyi, first Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, talented prophet and writer; Ukrainian writer Ostan Vyshnia, and to many other outstanding personalities of our country.
“Among the coins of 2015 three pieces of UAH 5 draw the special attention - Euromaidan”, “Dignity Revolution” and “Heavenly Hundred” of the “To the Heroes of the Maidan” series, which perpetuates memory of the fallen and events that took place in Ukraine during November 2013 - February 2014 and went down in history as the Dignity Revolution, - Ms Viktoriia Suzanska said. - Let me remind you that the National Bank of Ukraine issued the commemorative medal “Heavenly Hundred at Watch” last year.
According to Ms Suzanska, this year coins will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of birth of Metropolitan Andrii Sheptytskyi, outstanding religious and political leader of XX century and 140th Avviversary of Oleksandr Murashko, one of the most prominent Ukrainian artists of the end of XIX century - beginning of XX century. The 400th Anniversary of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, which still establishes and develops best national traditions of higher education and promotes formation of national elite, will be commemorated by issuance of coins of silver and German silver.
As Ms Tamara Loshmanova, Head of Numismatic Production and Marketing Division, Cash Circulation Department, stressed, the national coloring of the Ukrainian coin and their high artistic level provoke interest of domestic and international community.
“Our commemorative coins are in great demand in Ukraine and all over the world that is shown by their sale statistics. In 2014, the National Bank of Ukraine sold 707.7 thousand commemorative coins for the total amount of UAH 52.1 million, and from beginning of 2015 (as of 1 May 2015) - 331.2 thousand commemorative coins for the total amount of UAH 28.8 million”, Ms Tamara Loshmanova noted.
She also added that flexible pricing for commemorative coins of precious metals is driven by price fluctuations for the investment metals, i.e. the value of commemorative coins is updating on a daily basis. Sale of coins is performed by the NBU regional offices and distributing banks, to which 41% and 31% of amount of commemorative coins of German silver and precious metals respectively are transferred.
For the current value of commemorative coins as well as their sale points see the NBU official website.