Today, on July 24, 2015, the National Bank of Ukraine puts into circulation and presents the  commemorative coin “Volodymyr the Great, Grand Duke of Kyiv", which is dedicated to Volodymyr the Great, Grand Duke of Kyiv, an outstanding statesman and political figure, an architect of Ukraine-Rus, a medieval European state, and commemorates the millennium from the date of his repose.

As Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Yakiv Smolii said, the commemorative coin was put into circulation on the eve of the Ukrainian national holiday introduced in 2008 – the Christianization of Kyiv Rus-Ukraine. 

“Presenting a new coin, I would like to underline that in its numismatic activities the National Bank of Ukraine harkens back to the dawn of our history, seeking to highlight the most important and interesting events and outstanding personalities in the millennial history of our country.  Volodymyr the Great, Grand Duke of Kyiv, the founder and patron saint of our statehood is one of the outstanding figures of the Ukrainian history,” said Yakiv Smolii.

According to him, in 2000, 2008 and 2013, the National Bank of Ukraine put into circulation coins devoted to Volodymyr the Great, Grand Duke of Kyiv and the anniversary of Christianization of Kyivan Rus.

“There is good reason behind the frequent reflecting on the memory of Volodymyr the Great. He began his reign in Kyiv with reforms: Grand Duke of Kyiv carried out an administrative reform, while securing the territorial integrity of the state, overhauled the legislation, put a tremendous amount of effort into building Kyiv, launched the coinage (gold and silver coins), and promoted Christianity as a state religion,” explained Yakiv Smolii, adding that the outstanding personality of Volodymyr the Great as financial reformer serves as a role model for the National Bank of Ukraine.

He also reminded that in December 1991 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a Resolution On the approval of the name and characteristic features of the currency unit of Ukraine, whereby it was established that the one hryvnia banknote shall bear the portrait of Volodymyr the Great, and in October 2004, the circulation coin of 1 hryvnia denomination was put into circulation (currently in circulation).

According to Director of the NBU Cash Circulation Department Viktor Zaivenko, the concept of the commemorative coin “Volodymyr the Great, Grand Duke of Kyiv” brings into light the duke’s acts of founding the state: “Therefore, the obverse of the coin bears a “sriblianyk” (silver coin), one of the first coins minted in the Kyivan state, and the fragment of ancient Kyiv; to the right and to the left there is a conventionalized composition of hills with names of the tribes once inhabiting this territory. On the reverse: in the center there is depicted Volodymyr the Great, Grand Duke of Kyiv,  around him there are four medallions with conventionalized representations of the duke’s acts of founding the state: coins mintage, joining new territories and protection of state borders, economic development and trade, Christianization of the people and establishment of Christianity as the state religion.”

He also said that this year it is 20 years since the National Bank of Ukraine launched the national numismatic program.

“Over the past two decades, the National Bank of Ukraine has minted 649 types (507 names) of commemorative coins with the total mintage 16.5 million pcs. These are a great number of coins, but our country has a millennium-long history,” said Viktor Zaivenko, adding that coins come in 31 series and throw light on the traditions of the Ukrainian people, describe the nature, achievements, places and people. 

For reference

National Bank of Ukraine on yearly basis puts into circulation nearly forty commemorative coins on average. In 2015, the National Bank of Ukraine plans to put into circulation 36 types of commemorative coins that will come in 12 series.  

In the first half of 2015, the National Bank of Ukraine sold 442 thousand pieces of commemorative coins for a total of UAH 35.4 million, which is in line with sales figures recorded over the recent years. (For comparison, in 2014, the National Bank of Ukraine sold 707.7 thousand pieces of commemorative coins worth UAH 52.1 million). In 2015, the National Bank of Ukraine has increased the mintage of commemorative coins made of German silver to 35 thousands in order to meet the market demand for these coins.

The commemorative coins are available for sale at the NBU regional offices (except the NBU Main Office located in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and NBU regional offices in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and distributing banks engaged in selling commemorative  coins of Ukraine (State Savings Bank of Ukraine JSC, BANK FINANCE AND CREDIT PJSC, KHRESCHATYK PJSCCB and OKCI BANK PJSC).