The National Bank of Ukraine, inspired by the legends of heroic Zaporozhian Sich warriors, the Kharakternyk Cossacks (Cossacks who were believed to have superhuman abilities), has created commemorative coins titled “Neither a Bullet nor a Saber!” which will become protective amulets for today’s defenders of Ukraine.
“The NBU has reproduced the image of the Kharakternyk Cossacks in its new commemorative coins, which will become protective amulets for every service person,” said NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy. These coins will protect today’s defenders of Ukraine from the enemy, so that neither fire, nor water, nor a saber, nor a bullet will harm them. Today, when Ukraine is once again fighting for its freedom, Ukrainian soldiers, like their glorious Cossack ancestors, are demonstrating superhuman courage and exceptional resilience.”
On the eve of the Day of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, the NBU Governor presented the new “Neither a Bullet nor a Saber!” commemorative coins at a meeting with Ukrainian service persons during a working visit he made to eastern Ukraine.
Coin design
Obverse of coins: in the center of a composition is a stylized image of a soldier who is carefully holding and protecting the small coat of arms of Ukraine – a symbol of freedom and independence. The composition symbolizes the eternal desire of the Ukrainian people to live in their own sovereign state. Against a matte background are enemy bullets bouncing off the soldier, failing to hit the “Ukrainian soul.”
Reverse: against a smooth background is a stylized image of a Kharakternyk Cossack who is protecting a bird – a symbol of freedom that has been made to look like a trident. The composition reflects the connection between the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Ukrainian spirit of the Cossack era. Against a matte background are broken enemy sabers that are powerless in the face of undying love for one’s native land and the desire for freedom.
Designers – Volodymyr Taran, Oleksandr Kharuk, and Serhii Kharuk. Engravers – Volodymyr Atamanchuk and Anatolii Demianenko.
Coin sales
The coins were issued into circulation on 4 December 2024. They continue the Ukraine’s Armed Forces series.
The nickel silver coin has a face value of 5 hryvnias. The silver coin has a face value of 10 hryvnias and fine weight of 31.1 g. The mintage of the coins is up to 125,000 and up to 10,000 units respectively.
These coins will be sold through the NBU’s online numismatic store from 19 December 2024, as well as through distributing banks (the list of these banks can be found on the NBU’s official website).
You can find more details about the starting date of sales on the official website of the NBU’s online numismatic store and on the official websites of the distributing banks.