Новости нумизматики и коллекционирования

The National Bank of Ukraine has put into circulation the commemorative coin Outstanding Personalities of Ukraine series.

The commemorative coin 'Anna Yaroslavna' (Anne of Rus) is dedicated to a Kyiv princess, the middle daughter of the grand prince Yaroslav the Wise. In the late forties of the 11th century she married the king Henry I of France (house of Capet) and, after his death, became the queen regent of their underage son; she participated actively in the government of the country and was in fact the reigning queen. The beautiful, highly educated and wise woman excited admiration of her contemporaries and meritoriously represented Kyiv Rus, a developed power that was held in esteem and played an important role in the international relations of the countries of Europe and the Middle East.

Obverse: above there is the semicircular inscription Національний банк України (National Bank of Ukraine) with the inscription АННА/ЯРОСЛАВНА (Anna/Yaroslavna) thereunder and the Small Coat of Arms of Ukraine to the left; in the center there is the conventionalized figure of the Kyiv princess Anna against the background of the image of Saint Sophia`s Cathedral of Kyiv; below there are the coin face value 2 ГРИВНІ (2 hryvnias), coin issue year indication 2014 and the mark of the National Bank of Ukraine Mint (to the left).

On the reverse there is depicted the conventionalized image of Anna as a queen of France against the background of St.Vincent Abbey church; above there is her conventionalized Cyrillic signature; below there are the inscriptions ХІ ст. (XI century) and КОРОЛЕВА/ФРАНЦІЇ (queen of France).

On June 2, 2014 the Central Bank of the Russian Federation issues a coin of base metals: «Stary Oskol» of the series «Towns of Martial Glory».

A coin is 22.0 mm in diameter, yellow in colour and has the rim raised on both sides of the coin along the circumference. The edge of the coin is corrugated, each section contains different number of corrugations alternating with smooth sections.

The obverse: in the upper part of the coin there is an inscription along the rim: «БАНК РОССИИ» (BANK OF RUSSIA), in the lower part — the year of issue «2014». On the left and on the right there are stylized images of laurel and oak twigs respectively. In the center of the disc there is an indication of the face value of the coin «10 РУБЛЕЙ» (10 ROUBLES) in two lines. Inside the figure «0» there is a protective element in the form of the figure «10» and an inscription «РУБ» (RUB) visible when changing angles of vision. In the lower part of the disc there is a mint trademark.

The reverse side of the coin depictsa relief image of Stary Oskol emblem. There are inscriptions along the circumference «ГОРОДА ВОИНСКОЙ СЛАВЫ» (TOWNS OF MARTIAL GLORY) at the top and «СТАРЫЙ ОСКОЛ» (STARY OSKOL) at the bottom.

The National Bank of Ukraine has put into circulation the commemorative coin, dedicated to the children born under the sign of Gemini.

Obverse: above there is the Small Coat of Arms of Ukraine with the semicircular inscription НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ БАНК УКРАЇНИ (National Bank of Ukraine); below there is the coin face value ДВІ ГРИВНІ (two hryvnias) under the conventionalized composition - against the background of the sky of stars there are the images of Zodiac signs, Moon and Sun; the coin issue year indication 2014 and the mark of the National Bank of Ukraine Mint are to the right, while to the left there is the indication of metal, its fineness and weight Ag 925/7,78.

On the coin reverse there is the conventionalized composition: to the left, on the lusterless surface, there is the sign of Gemini; in the center there are depicted a twin girl and boy on the grass; above there is the inscription БЛИЗНЯТКА (little twins).

The third release in Five Coin Series from the heart-warming Mother’s Love series features a mother giraffe and her calf nuzzling in the savannah.

The coin’s reverse depicts a coloured giraffe calf being nuzzled by its mother in the African savannah. The inscription GIRAFFE and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark also appear in the design.

The coin is issued as legal tender under the authority of the Government of Tuvalu and features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2014 year-date, and the monetary denomination on the obverse.

Each coin is presented in a grey display case within an illustrated shipper portraying more stunning imagery, and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

This charming 2014-dated coin is the first Mini Kookaburra released by The Perth Mint. The extremely affordable Mini Kookaburra gold coin is a precious collectable or gift that will stand the test of time. The Mini Kookaburra is offered for the first time as a welcome addition to the highly successful annual Mini Roo and Mini Koala series.

The Mini Kookaburra coin’s reverse portrays a close-up portrait of a kookaburra, with The Perth Mint’s historic ‘P’ mintmark also included in the design. Designed by Perth Mint artist Natasha Muhl.

Issued as legal tender under theAustralian Currency Act 1965, the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2014 year-date and the monetary denomination, are shown on the coin’s obverse.

The 2014 Mini Kookaburra coin is housed in a protective acrylic capsule and presented in a colourful wallet-sized card.

The Perth Mint is pleased to present the Horses of Lore and Legend 1oz Silver Proof Three-Coin Set, celebrating six horses that hold a special place in our hearts and culture. These outstanding horses of remarkable character have earned a unique place in lore and legend and their tales of courage and insight will continue to be told for generations to come.

Each coin is issued as legal tender under the authority of the Government of Tuvalu and features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination on its obverse.

Each coin’s reverse features two of the six horses of Lore and Legend. Together the coins celebrate the Hippocamp, Kelpie, Slepnir, Unicorn, Qilin, and Pegasus.

First coin 'Hippocamp & Kelpie'

Hippocamp — with the head of a horse and the tail of a sea creature, the hippocamp was thought to be the adult form of the common seahorse. Their brave and faithful character made them the ideal partner for the heroes and gods of antiquity.

These mythical creatures were first depicted on coins around four hundred years before the Christian era, powering the chariots of important ancient Greek, Phoenician and Etruscan sea gods including Poseidon. The hippocamp united with its master’s cause, helping many classical heroes to victory on the battlefield. Their strength and loyalty were legendary, and earned them a central place beside the important characters in artists’ depictions of classical tales.

Kelpie — mythological British tales describe the kelpie as a blue, white, green or black horse spirit, which lives in the rivers and streams of Scotland. With slick wet skin, a dripping mane and tail, the kelpie was a sly creature that would trick its human prey into a watery grave. Wandering calmly beside a waterway, the kelpie would tempt a weary traveller onto its back. Once mounted, its skin transformed, becoming so sticky, riders were at once trapped; unable to free themselves from the horse’s body. The kelpie immediately charged at great speed into the depths of the water, drowning the rider who was never to be seen again.

Second coin 'Sleipnir & Unicorn'

Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse found in ancient Norse poetry and mythology. Of tremendous strength and agility, he was given to Odin, father of all the gods and men, who rode him through the air and sea. Sleipnir is the son of Loki, god of mischief, and the great stallion Svaoilfari. Sleipnir’s eight legs represent the eight directions of the compass. They allowed Odin to travel between the world of the gods, the world of man, and the underworld. His name refers to the great speed and power which glides him across the Earth.

Unicorn — the unicorn is a wild horse that can be tamed only by a maiden. As a symbol for Christ during the Middle Ages, the search for the unicorn was akin to the quest to find the Holy Grail. Their horns were highly prized, and said to purify water and cure illness. Throughout the years, the unicorn has come to represent purity, strength and courtly love. They continue to appear on coats of arms, symbolising the potency of nature.

Third coin 'Qilin & Pegasus'

Qilin — chinese records from the fifth century before Christianity describe the qilin as a horse-dragon hybrid covered in flames, with a horn protruding from its forehead. Similar to the unicorn in the West, the Eastern qilin is thought to appear directly before or immediately following the passing of a wise ruler. Legend has it that the birth of Confucius was foretold by the arrival of a qilin. Often dazzling in appearance, the qilin’s body is as bright and colourful as precious metals, stars, fire, water or gemstones. It is a symbol of justice, wisdom and harmony. Through their noble actions, the qilin exemplifies the very best of the human spirit.

Pegasus — ancient Greek tales describe Pegasus as a white winged horse that sprung to life from the monster Medusa’s head, after it was removed by the hero Perseus. Upon seeing Perseus kill Medusa, her two sisters chased after the hero seeking revenge, whereupon Pegasus lifted Perseus onto his back, flying him away to safety. A gentle creature, known to be helpful and kind, Pegasus came to symbolise wisdom, fame and the source of creativity used by poets. Upon his ascent to heaven, as a reward for his service and loyalty, Zeus transformed Pegasus into a constellation, to be forever admired in the night sky.

The Horses of Lore and Legend 2014 1oz Silver Proof Three-Coin Set is housed in a high-gloss black presentation case within an illustrated shipper, and accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

The black-throated loon is the bird of Savonia. This proof-quality coin depicting the loon makes the regional character of Savonia come into its own.

The collector coin of Savonia depicts a black-throated loon swimming on the rippling surface of a Savonian lake, with an island visible in the horizon. The collector coin's reverse is stamped with the historic coat of arms of Savonia.

The loon coin is most beautiful in proof quality. Proof-quality collector coins are minted with a polished die, finished, and placed in a protective clear plastic casing set in a package that tells the coin's story. In its package, the coin will make a beautiful addition to your collection and keep from one generation to the next.

This impressive collector coin is part of the Animals of the Provinces series, which is the third coin series minted in honour of Finland's historic provinces. The 2013 coin of Savonia commemorated Olavinlinna castle, while the 2011 coin paid tribute to a traditional Savonian livelihood, slash-and-burn farming.

The black-throated loon is the bird of myth. The bird of Savonia, the black-throatedloon, is a familiar sight on rugged, clearlakes. As a champion swimmer, the loonis a skilful fisher that only stays on dryland to nest. To the Finnish people, theblack-throated loon is also the bird ofstory and myth, the First Bird. Fossilfinds indicate that the ancestors of theloon fished waters as early as 40 millionyears ago.

A Royal Canadian Mint exclusive, this coin features the use of an advanced "Transition Effect" colourization technique used for the first time! Mintage of only 7,500 coins!

For the first time ever, the Royal Canadian Mint has utilized a new colorization technology referred to a "transition effect". This colour innovation recreates the sparkle and glitter of the waterfalls, giving the waterfalls a true sense of motion and bringing the coin to life.

Algonquin Provincial Park in autumn is one of Canada's most beautiful visual treats. In the land that inspired world-renowned Canadian landscape painters Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, nature shows itself to those who are observant. Like Thomson, many nature enthusiasts take to Algonquin's waterways and trails to experience the back country in many forms, such as camping, canoeing, and fishing, and thus reconnecting one with nature. The Algonquin Highlands are the origins of six major rivers; the Nipissing, Amable du Fond, Petawawa, Bonnechere, Opeongo and lastly, the Madawaska. The mighty Madawaska River typifies the region's unique geography, as southern forests of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands meet the northern Boreal Forest at the southern edge Canadian Shield.

Designed by Canadian artist Robert Ross coin features an original painting of a set of rapids on the Madawaska River in the southern portion of Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. Captured in stunning colour atop an engraved surface, the image depicts a view of the Madawaska from the Track and Tower trail near Cache Lake. The composition centres on churning rapids that splash and froth as they overtake the massive red-mauve granite outcroppings of the Park's bedrock. On the left and right sides of the image, and in the distant background at the top of the image, vast pines rise high into the bright blue sky, mixing with the crimson-tinged autumn foliage of deciduous trees and brush. The fiery orange of the fall trees is captured in reflection on the surface of the river in the lower portion of the image.

The coin is engraved with the word 'CANADA', the date '2014', and the face value of '20 DOLLARS'.

Silver proof commemorative coin produced by Czech Mint, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Bohumil Hrabal birthday.

Bohumil Hrabal (March 28, 1914, Brno - February 3, 1997, Prague) was a famous Czech writer. Born in Brno-Židenice, Moravia, he lived briefly in Polná, but was raised in the Nymburk brewery as the manager's stepson. Hrabal received a Law degree from Prague's Charles University, and lived in the city from the late 1940s on. He lived at 24 Na Hrázi Street in Prague - Libeň; the house does not exist any more. He worked as a manual laborer alongside Vladimír Boudník in the Kladno ironworks in the 1950s, an experience which inspired the "hyper-realist" texts he was writing at the time. His two best known novels were Closely Watched Trains (Ostre sledované vlaky) (1965) and I Served the King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále), both of which were made into movies by the Czech director, Jirí Menzel (1966 and 2006, respectively).

In 1965 he bought a cottage in Kersko, which he used to visit till the end of his life, and where he kept cats. He was a great storyteller; his favorite pub was At the Golden Tiger (U zlatého tygra) on Husova Street in Prague, where he met the Czech President Václav Havel, the American President Bill Clinton and the then-US ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright on January 11, 1994. He died when he fell from a window on the fifth floor of the Bulovka hospital in Prague where he was apparently trying to feed pigeons. It was noted that Hrabal lived on the fifth floor of his apartment building and that suicides by leaping from a fifth-floor window were mentioned in several of his books. He was buried in his family's crypt in a cemetery in Hradištko.

The obverse side of the coin depicts a motif of rails which merge into a female silhouette. The lower part of the coin features two stamps alluding to Hrabal's book “Closely Observed Trains”. The name of the state “ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA” is located around the left-hand, upper and right-hand edge of the coin. The denomination and abbreviated monetary unit “200 Kč” are written in the middle of the rails around the upper edge of the coin. The coin was minted by the Czech Mint in Jablonec nad Nisou. Its mark is to the left of the left-hand stamp.

The reverse side of the coin features a portrait of Bohumil Hrabal. Written around the left-hand, bottom and right-hand edge of the coin is the text “BOHUMIL HRABAL”, which partly extends into the lower part of the portrait. The year “1914” is located above the collar of the portrait and the year “2014” is on the collar of the portrait. The coin was designed by the sculptor Vladimír Oppl. His mark is situated above the years.

This coin commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Adolphe Sax (1814–1894), whose name is eternally linked with the instrument he invented — the saxophone.

The coin depicts a young Sax and a panoramic view of his town of birth, Dinant.

This issue participates in the pan-European eurostar coin program for 2014.