On 26 August 2016, the National Bank of Ukraine presented the 20 hryvnia commemorative banknote celebrating the 160th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Franko, a prominent Ukrainian writer.
A press briefing on the presentation of new commemorative banknotes was conducted by NBU Deputy Governor Mr Yakiv Smolii, Director of the NBU Cash Circulation Department Mr Viktor Zaivenko, Head of the Office for Banknotes and Securities Production and Protection of the NBU Cash Circulation Department Mr. Volodymyr Tyshchenko, Acting Director General of the NBU Banknote Printing and Minting Works Mr. Volodymyr Baglai, Director of the Paper Mill of the NBU Banknote Printing and Minting Works Mr Vasyl Ishchenko and Head of the NBU Information and Public Communications Office Ms Nataliia Bondarenko.
At the press briefing, Mr Smolii said that the NBU seized the opportunity to mark the 160th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Franko, an outstanding Ukrainian writer, a scientist and a public figure by issuing a commemorative banknote, which is a special type of banknotes issued to commemorate landmark historical and cultural events.
“The NBU launched its own numismatic program in 1995. Our coins reflect the history and traditions of the Ukrainian people, nature, achievements, cities, architectural monuments and outstanding personalities of Ukraine. In 2006, the NBU put into circulation commemorative coins “Ivan Franko”, which were made from silver andˮ German silver, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Franko ,” said Mr Smolii. “Today, we present the result of our year-long work that displays our innovative and technological capabilities - the 20 hryvnia commemorative banknote”.
According to Mr Smolii, commemorative banknotes enjoy popularity around the world. For instance, commemorative coins are issued by Poland, the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan and many other countries.
Mr Smolii recalled that in 2011, the NBU issued a 50 hryvnia commemorative banknote with a total issuance volume of 1,000 pieces to commemorate 20th anniversary since the establishment of the National Bank of Ukraine.
The NBU Deputy Governor said that commemorative banknotes celebrating the 160th Anniversary of the Birth of Ivan Franko:
- will be put into circulation on 1 September 2016;
- the total issuance volume amounts to 1 million pieces;
- banknotes are denoted by a prefix consisting of two letters “ЦБ”;
- banknote paper on which commemorative banknotes are printed is manufactured from a - combination of both cotton and linen fibers, enables the reduction of production costs and gives the paper its strength and durability.
Director of the NBU Cash Circulation Department Mr Zaivenko dwelled on the banknote’s design and its new security features.
“The NBU designed this banknote with the aim of improving banknote production technology and enhancing security features. “When working on the creation of the new 20 hryvnia banknote, the NBU applied cutting-edge design and security technologies,” he underlined.
Mr Zaivenko said that this banknote incorporates new optically variable security features:
- the window thread - is a securuity thread partially embedded in the paper with the kinematic effect;
- SPARK element is the optically-variable image. When the banknote is tilted, some areas of the image will change its color.
In the center of the banknote’s front side there is a portrait of Ivan Franko; the back side of the 20 hryvnia commemorative banknote retains the image the Lviv Opera House as the core design element.
The predominant green color of both 20 hryvnia circulation and commemorative banknotes is supported by the tinted banknote paper.
20,000 banknotes enclosed in the souvenir envelopes will be sold at the price of UAH 31 through the NBU regional offices. The remaining commemorative coins will be sold at the price of UAH 27.