Russian silver coin features the fortified Novospassky Monastery outside Moscow

The Central Bank of Russia continues to release a fine selection of niche and interesting coins looking at the architecture and tumultuous history of this huge country. The last one we looked at was the Surp Kach monastery in the Crimea. The latest is a five-ounce proof silver coin featuring one of the fortified monasteries that circle the Russian capital, Moscow.

Called the Novospassky Monastery (New monastery of the Saviour) it’s one of the fortified monasteries that surround Moscow from south-east. It was the first monastery to be founded in Moscow in the early 14th century. Patronised by the descendants of Andrei Kobyla, it was used as the burial vault of the Sheremetyev and Romanov boyars, indeed one of the last Romanovs buried there was Xenia Shestova, the mother of the first Romanov Tsar.

In the late sixteenth century, the wooden citadel was repeatedly attacked by Crimean Tartars. In the 1640’s, the Romanov King Michael rebuilt the family shrine. Today, apart from the tall bell-tower and the Sheremetev sepulchre in the Church of the Sign that were 18th century additions, the Novosparssky Monastery dates from that period. It didn’t fare too well under Soviet control; being used first as a prison and then as a drunk tank. It was assigned to an art restoration institute in the 1970’s before being finally returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1991. It’s slowly being restored after decades of decline.

Struck in sterling 0.925 silver, the coin depicts a view of the monastery with an inscription around the edge denoting the building name. A small fragment of an old view of the complex sits above the main design. It’s a typical Russian coin, steeped in history and with a kind of matter-of-fact design that the bank is known for and works well. The obverse carries the standard, and hugely cool double-headed eagle emblem, along with all the inscriptions required. Available shortly, fans of Russian coins will find this one interesting we’re sure.

2017 NOVOSPASSKY MONASTERY PROOF SILVER COIN

MINTS DESCRIPTION

OBVERSE: on the mirror field of the disc the relief image of the National Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation, over it along the rim the semicircular inscription “РОССИЙСКАЯ ФЕДЕРАЦИЯ” (RUSSIAN FEDERATION), framed on both sides by doubled rhombuses, below under the coat of arms: to the left indications of the precious metal and its fineness, to the right the fine metal content and the mint trade mark, at the bottom in the centre, in three lines the inscription “БАНК РОССИИ” (BANK OF RUSSIA), the denomination of the coin “25 РУБЛЕЙ” (25 RUBLES), the year of issue “2017 г.” (2017)

REVERSE: on the mirror field of the disc the relief image of the Novospassky Monastery, above it a fragment of an engraving of a panorama of the monastery, between the two images on the right the inscription “МОСКВА” (MOSCOW), along the rim the inscription “НОВОСПАССКИЙ МОНАСТЫРЬ” (NOVOSPASSKY MONASTERY)

ARTISTS: E.V. Kramskaya (obverse), A.A. Brynza (reverse)
SCULPTORS: A.A. Dolgopolova (obverse), A.N. Bessonov (reverse)
MINT: Moscow Mint (ММД)
EDGE: 252 corrugations

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2017 NOVOSPASSKY MONASTERY, MOSCOW
DENOMINATION 25 Rubles
COMPOSITION 0.925 silver
WEIGHT 169.00 grams (155.5 g fine silver)
DIAMETER 60.00 mm
FINISH Proof
MODIFICATIONS None
MINTAGE 1,500
BOX / COA tbc / Yes