On the occasion of Ukrainian Defenders’ Day, the National Bank of Ukraine (the NBU) presented new commemorative coins called “Female Defenders.” The coins honor the heroism of Ukrainian female defenders and celebrate Ukrainian women who are protecting their homeland.
The new coins were presented by NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy, together with three women defenders of Ukraine: Lieutenant-Colonel Alina Slobodianiuk, medical resident at the Department of Resuscitation and Intensive Care at the Main Military Clinical Hospital of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry; Eva Tur, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war; and Lesia Lytvynova, a servicewoman of Ukraine’s Armed Forces and a volunteer. The event was moderated by Iryna Soloshenko, a volunteer of the medical admissions unit of the Main Military Clinical Hospital.
“Ukrainian female defenders, on a par with men, fight with the same strength, courage and self-sacrifice – (there are) women intelligence officers, sappers, snipers, paramedics, and communications specialists... Today, to honor these women and on the occasion of Ukrainian Defenders’ Day, the NBU presents commemorative coins called ‘Female Defenders,’” said Pyshnyy. “The coins’ design clearly shows the transformation Ukrainian women have undergone since the start of the war. A woman, a mother and a protector takes a weapon to protect her own. Let these coins also serve as a form of artistic representation of the special nature of Ukrainian women. Your bravery makes people more confident that Ukrainian will win the war.”
Pyshnyy also said that currently there are almost 45,000 servicewomen in Ukraine’s Armed Forces. These servicewomen include two NBU workers. Another two have already been demobilized. At present, a total of 101 NBU workers are serving in Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
Design of the new coins
The coins were designed by artist Maryna Kuts.
The obverse of the coins, on a smooth background, depicts a symbolic composition that shows the bravery, freedom-loving, sincerity and care of Ukrainian women, who are embodied in the images of a mother and a protector. When the war started, Ukrainian women took on a huge responsibility – to protect their homeland, while at the same time being wives, mistresses of the house, and mothers.
The reverse of the coins, against a smooth background, features a composition that stands for the femininity of Ukrainian women protectors: to the left are stylized waves of braided woman’s hair; to the right are outlines of female figures wearing a plakhta (a traditional Ukrainian wrap skirt) (decorative element – pad printing).
Sales of the new coin
The 10-hryvnia coins are made of silver and have a mintage of up to 2,500 units; the five-hryvnia coins are made of nickel silver and have a mintage of up to 50,000 units (souvenir packaged).
These commemorative coins will be sold from 4 October 2023 through the NBU’s online numismatic store. Overall, the NBU plans to sell 500 silver coins and 10,000 nickel silver coins through its online store, with all of them being available from the day they go on sale.
In addition, starting in October, the coins will also be gradually sold by distributing banks (UKRGASBANK JSB, RADABANK JSB, TASCOMBANK JSC, and CB PRIVATBANK JSC) as they are delivered from the NBU’s Banknote Printing and Minting Works. You can find more details about the starting date of sale and points of sale on the official websites of the distributing banks.
The NBU issued into circulation the commemorative coins entitled “Female Defenders” on 2 October 2023. These coins continue the My Immortal Ukraine series.
The 10-hryvnia coin is made of silver (Ag 925) in special uncirculated quality. It has a fine weight of 31.1 g, and a diameter of 38.6 mm. The coin’s edge is smooth with incised inscriptions.
The 5-hryvnia coin is made of nickel silver in special uncirculated quality. It has a weight of 16.5 g, and a diameter of 35.0 mm. The coin’s edge is grooved.