Today, on 28 December 2017, presentation of commemorative coin 50 Years since the Foundation of the Ukrainian World Congress took place at the Money Museum of the National Bank of Ukraine.
The presentation of the commemorative coin was attended by UWC Director of the UWC Mission to Ukraine Serhiy Kasyanchuk, Deputy Director of the UWC Mission to Ukraine Volodymyr Kistianyk, NBU representatives, as well as coin sketches designers Volodymyr Taran, Oleksandr Kharuk, and Serhii Kharuk.
The commemorative coin 50 Years since the Foundation of the Ukrainian World Congress was put into circulation on 26 December 2017.
According to Ms Tamara Loshmanova, Head of the Numismatic Product and Marketing Office, NBU Cash Circulation Department, this coin celebrates the international coordination assembly of all Ukrainian public organizations in the diaspora, which has been representing the interests of millions of Ukrainians for 50 years.
“The high goal of the work of the Ukrainian World Congress is to further on the planet democratic principles, the defense of human rights, support for the independence, territorial integrity, national identity and economic development of Ukraine – the spiritual homeland of Ukrainians living beyond its borders. Therefore, the NBU has recognized the work of the Ukrainian World Congress by minting a commemorative coin in honor of its half-century anniversary”, said Tamara Loshmanova.
“In November 1967, 50 years ago, the First Congress of Free Ukrainians gathered in New York and made a historic decision to establish a World Congress of Free Ukrainians (now known as the Ukrainian World Congress) as a coordinating superstructure of Ukrainian civic organizations around the world. This decision was the result of the aspirations of the Ukrainian diaspora to consolidate and jointly promote the interests of the Ukrainian people around the world,” said UWC Director of the UWC Mission to Ukraine Serhiy Kasyanchuk. “Of course, the 50-year history of the Ukrainian World Congress is closely linked to the history of Ukraine. Indeed, during the first 25 years of its existence, our organization actively supported the Ukrainian people on the path to restoration of their independence, and over the next 25 years, it actively helps to strengthen and develop the statehood of Ukraine”.
The commemorative coin 50 Years since the Foundation of the Ukrainian World Congress is made of nickel silver in special uncirculated quality, has a weight of 16.5 g, a diameter of 35.0 mm, and a mintage of 35,000 pieces. The NBU's price for this commemorative coin is 43 hryvnias, it can be purchased at the branches of distributor banks and at the NBU the regional offices.
The coin’s sketches were made by Volodymyr Taran, Oleksandr Kharuk, and Serhii Kharuk, Kyiv designers and members of the ArtTrium group. Computer-aided design is done by the NBU Printing and Minting Works employee Vitalii Andrianov.
On the obverse, against the backdrop of a conventionalized globe is a decorative tree made to look like a vyshyvanka ornament. On the reverse, against a smooth background is a conventionalized sheaf tied with a straw rope, which symbolizes the uniting and consolidating activity of the UWC around the world.
Video about commemorative coin 50 Years since the Foundation of the Ukrainian World Congress can be found at https://youtu.be/_e6_QhFkbfY.