On the eve of Air Force Day, on 4 August 2023, the National Bank of Ukraine (the NBU) presented a new circulation commemorative coin entitled "The Air Defenses – Ukraine’s Reliable Shield".
This coin, which continues the Armed Forces of Ukraine series, celebrates the heroic deeds of Ukrainian air defense troops, which every day selflessly defend Ukrainian airspace.
The new coin was presented by NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy; the commander of the Air Force of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk; and the commander of the Center Air Command of the Air Force of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko.
The presentation was also attended by the commander of the tactical aviation brigade of the Center Air Command of the Air Force of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, military pilot, and Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Oleksandr Mostovyi; the commander of the Kyiv anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Center Air Command of the Air Force of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Serhii Yaremenko; other Air Force troops of Ukraine’s Armed Forces; as well as the ceremonial orchestra of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
"Today, we’re presenting our new circulation commemorative coin entitled ‘The Air Defenses – Ukraine’s Reliable Shield,’ with a view to engraving the valor of Ukrainian air defense units into metal," said Pyshnyy. "These coins, which will be in circulation every day, will remind us of the heroism and heroic deeds of soldiers from Ukraine’s Armed Forces, of those who we have to thank for saving people’s lives, giving us moments of peace, and for Ukraine’s unconquered and free airspace above our heads. We thank air defense troops for every target they shot down, and for acting as a reliable shield above Ukraine."
He added that by issuing this new coin into circulation, the NBU continues the practice of minting circulation commemorative coins. By the end of 2023, the NBU plans to issue two other circulation commemorative coins, one of which will celebrate Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
"Every time Ukraine’s Armed Forces thwart the enemy’s plans and give the country and its people another day to work and help bring victory closer," said Pyshnyy. "You enable our children to study, companies and banks to operate, and the Ukrainian economy to function. We believe that the memory of the valor of Ukrainian air defense troops will remained engraved in Ukrainian history, as it will be literally engraved on the NBU’s coins from now on. This is our way of showing our respect for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, and of thanking them for their courage, endurance, indomitability and bravery."
"That is why, on the eve of our professional holiday – Air Force Day – we’re jointly presenting not just a new coin, but a unique symbol of Ukraine’s new air defense system!" said Oleshchuk. "This is a combination of Ukrainian patriotism, the courage, fortitude and professionalism of air defense troops, and the excellent skills they have acquired to operate and use advanced Western air defense systems, which bring us closer to victory every day! Thanks to the aid provided by its foreign partners, Ukraine was the first to fully master the Patriot, NASAMS, IRIS-T, Crotale and other modern air defense systems in combat conditions. We deployed these systems to protect our peaceful cities and villages, creating an effective anti-aircraft shield for Ukraine."
"I believe that this coin will once again attract attention and remind the world about the war in Ukraine," said Kryvonozhko, commander of the Center Air Command, which protects the central part of Ukraine, in particular Kyiv region, from missile attacks. "At the same time, this coin will bring glory to the image of Ukrainian defenders, while also reminding people about the courage and heroism of the air defense, missile and airspace surveillance units, as well as that of military pilots. It will raise the issue and emphasize the need to support their fighting off the Kremlin aggressor. We have one enemy, whom we can only defeat by standing united. That’s why only together, with each of us fighting on their own front, can we bring victory closer!"
The specifications of this coin are identical to the 10-hryvnia circulation coin designed in 2018. However, the coin’s reverse is themed and features military symbols.
The reverse depicts an image of a Patriot launcher, together with a stylized radar detecting a target; above is the following circular legend: ППО – НАДІЙНИЙ ЩИТ УКРАЇНИ (Air Defenses – Ukraine’s Reliable Shield). The obverse of the coin is identical to the obverse of the 10-hryvnia circulation coin designed in 2018, featuring in the center, surrounded by an Old Rus ornament, the coin’s face value, issue year, and Ukraine’s coat of arms.
Like all other Ukrainian circulation coins, this coin must be accepted at its face value for settling all cash payments and for crediting accounts.
Distributing banks will not sell these coins as numismatic products. The NBU will supply banks and CIT companies with these coins for the coins to be issued to their clients. These coins will be accepted from clients like ordinary circulation coins at their 10-hryvnia face value. Gradually, the NBU will issue about 10 million of such circulation commemorative coins into circulation.
However, some of these coins will be made into specially-designed rolls. These rolls will be sold as souvenir products from 9 August 2023 through the NBU’s online numismatic store and in distributing banks (UKRGASBANK JSB, RADABANK JSB, TASCOMBANK JSC, and CB PRIVATBANK JSC). The rolls will contain 25 circulation commemorative coins. The rolls’ souvenir packaging depict a Patriot launcher. The issue number of the rolls is to be 20,000 units.
This circulation commemorative coin was issued into circulation on 4 August 2023.
The 10-hryvnia coin is made of a nickel-electroplated zinc-based alloy. It has a weight of 6.4 g, a diameter of 23.5 mm, and a mintage of up to 10,000,000 units (including 500,000 units as souvenir products in specially-designed rolls). The coin’s edge is grooved.
The coin’s reverse was designed by Tetiana Baluta. Engraver – Volodymyr Demianenko.
