Collection of coins from the National Museum of History of Ukraine
Photo © radiosvoboda.org
The largest collection of coins, which is more than 120,000 units, is contained in the National Museum of History of Ukraine (NMIU). Until recently, the National Bank of Ukraine transferred commemorative coins to the museum.
With independence, the Soviet ruble continued to run in monetary circulation. In parallel with the Soviet money, they also used consumer cards and an invitation to purchase.
Numismatist Andrei Boyko-Gagarin notes that when there was a shortage of sugar in Kiev and used sugar cards, in the Donetsk region there were not enough of many essential goods. However, on January 10, 1992, the National Bank introduced reusable kuponokarbovantsy, which were printed in France and delivered by one plane.
Only four years later, in 1996, the national currency appeared in circulation - the hryvnia and its hundredth part - a penny. Before that, there was a long process of preparing for monetary reform.
The first coins were made in Italy, and the stamps were ordered from the British Royal Mint. Then, with their help, the first coins were made at the Lugansk cartridge plant.
Andrei Boyko-Gagarin notes: “Rare trial coins are one and two kopecks, which are not made in aluminum, but in bronze. There are also trial 15 kopecks, bronze 1 and 2 kopecks, 10 kopecks silver. In addition, there are coin blanks on which there is no image - these are intermediate links between raw metal and coins, which are very interesting for both collectors and museum workers.”
The list of unique Ukrainian coins includes coins of English coinage, coins of rare years, commemorative and investment coins, coins with minor differences. Among other things, the annual set of 2001, a series of coins of gold "Oranta", the most valuable coin of precious metal, issued by the NBU - 500 hryvnia.
