Description

Chornobyl. Rebirth. Przewalski’s Horse

The coin celebrates the symbol of rebirth of wild nature, the iconic animal of the reserve, Przewalski’s horse being the only remaining extant, nondomesticated wild horse on the international endangered species list, where it is designated as a species on the brink of extinction. The coin leads off the Chornobyl. Rebirth series. However paradoxical it may seem, a man-made disaster provided nature with the unique opportunity for revival that nature utilized to the fullest. In 2016, in the area affected by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, the largest and most recent natural reserve in Ukraine, the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve, was created. This territory has become a kind of breeding reserve not only for typical animals, but also for endangered species.

Obverse: above is Ukraine’s small coat of arms and the following legends: УКРАЇНА (Ukraine) (underneath the coat of arms); the coin’s face value 5/ ГРИВЕНЬ (5/hryvnias) (to the right of the coat of arms); in the center is a symbolic wheel of life that marks rebirth of nature: stylized international radioactive sign shrouded in leaves surrounded by animals that are increasing their populations in the 30-kilometer exclusion zone that became a kind of a breeding reserve for black stork, Przewalski’s horse, lynx, bison, moose, and brown bear; there is a circular legend against a smooth background, reading: ЧОРНОБИЛЬСЬКИЙ РАДІАЦІЙНО-ЕКОЛОГІЧНИЙ БІОСФЕРНИЙ ЗАПОВІДНИК (Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve) (to the left) CHORNOBYL RADIATION AND ECOLOGICAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE; the coin’s issue year 2021 (below); and the mint mark of the NBU Banknote Printing and Minting Works (above).

Reverse: against an outline of a landscape scene is Przewalski’s horse, above there is a legend against a smooth background: КІНЬ/ ПРЖЕВАЛЬСЬКОГО/ (Przewalski’s horse) EQUUS FERUS PRZEWALSKII; above – a horse and a foal.