Description

Solomiya Krushelnytska

This coin celebrates Solomiya Krushelnytska, who was a Ukrainian opera and chamber singer (dramatic soprano). Musical experts have described her as “unforgettable”, “unsurpassed”, “the one and only”, and “a most beautiful and charming Butterfly.” Krushelnytska performed a variety of soprano parts, in particular from operas by Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss and Giacomo Puccini. Her repertoire included over 60 opera parts that have greatly influenced the development of the world’s vocal arts. She also skillfully sang Ukrainian folk songs and promoted Ukrainian music. Thanks to her creative work she established friendship with Ivan Franko, Vasyl Stefanyk, Olha Kobylianska, Mykola Lysenko, and Oleksandr Myshuha.

Obverse: in the center is an image of Krushelnytska performing Verdi’s Aida; on both sides of Krushelnytska are stylized stage wings embellished with decorative ornaments; to the left is Ukraine`s small coat of arms; above, against the backdrop of the decorative ornament, is the legend УКРАЇНА (Ukraine); to the right is the coin’s issue year – 2022; beneath is the coin’s face value – ДВІ ГРИВНІ (two hryvnias); to the right, above the issue year, is the mint mark of the NBU’s Banknote Printing and Minting Works.

Reverse: against a smooth background is a portrait of Krushelnytska, to the right of which is a stylized butterfly wing, symbolizing one of the singer’s most famous opera roles “Madama Butterfly”; to the left are the singer’s years of birth and death – 1872/1952 and the semicircular legend СОЛОМІЯ КРУШЕЛЬНИЦЬКА (Solomiya Krushelnytska).