Coin Ukraine 2025 #12 The Ceramics of Opishnia BOOKLET

Description

The Ceramics of Opishnia

`Опішнянська кераміка`

This coin is dedicated to the traditional pottery art that originated in the village of Opishnia in Poltava oblast and dates back to the 17th century. Opishnia ceramics has become an iconic phenomenon of national culture, in both its artistic and ethnographic dimensions. It combines profound artistic originality with an exquisite technique of execution, both of which have been preserved and passed down for centuries from generation to generation. In 2012, Opishnia ceramics was added to the National List of Ukraine’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, which attests to its significance as a component of cultural identity.

Obverse: the central composition features a zoomorphic sculpture titled “The Lion,” created by Vasyl Omelianenko (has a decorative element with color printing). Flanking the sculpture are fragments of the distinctive applied decor typical of zoomorphic sculptures. To the right are Ukraine’s small coat of arms, the coin’s issue year 2025, the legend УКРАЇНА (Ukraine), the coin’s face value 5, the graphic symbol of the hryvnia, and the mint mark of the NBU’s Banknote Printing and Minting Works.

Reverse: there is a stylized composition created from elements of the traditional ornamental decor of Opishnia clay products, particularly plates – true gems of Ukrainian folk art – which seem to extend beyond the boundaries of a single piece. Above is the legend ОПІШНЯНСЬКА КЕРАМІКА (Opishnia ceramics).