On 2 September, the National Bank put into circulation a silver commemorative coin entitled «Marking the 30th Anniversary of Monetary Reform in Ukraine» with a face value of 1 hryvnia. It contains 31.1 g of pure silver, is adorned with local gilding and will be issued in a mintage of up to 5,000 pieces. The coin will be sold via the NBU’s online shop and distributor banks once the start of sales has been announced.
Briefly about the main points
- The NBU has issued a commemorative coin to mark the anniversary of the 1996 reform.
- The item is made of 925 sterling silver and finished with a gold-plated coating.
- The obverse and reverse depict two generations of the hryvnia banknote.
- The print run is limited to five thousand copies.
- The sale will take place via the NBU’s online shop and distributor banks.
The reform that introduced the hryvnia
The currency reform in Ukraine took place from 2 to 16 September 1996. During this period, coupon-karbovanets were freely and without restriction exchanged for the new national currency — the hryvnia. The exchange rate was 100,000 coupon-karbovanets to one hryvnia.
From 17 September of that year, the hryvnia became the sole legal tender throughout Ukraine. The Governor of the NBU Andriy Pyshnyy stated that the introduction of the national currency had cemented the state’s right to determine its own economic future, and that the regulator’s task now is to maintain confidence in the hryvnia.
This commemorative issue refers to two stages in the development of the hryvnia banknote. It combines the design of the first circulation coin of this denomination with that of the modern, more compact version introduced into circulation in 2018.
Two hryvnia designs on a single coin
The coin is struck from 925-fine silver in «special uncirculated» quality. The weight of the precious metal, in pure form, is 31.1 g. It features a smooth edge with recessed inscriptions and localised gold plating.
The obverse features the design of the 2018 circulation coin: the Small State Emblem, the inscriptions «Ukraine» and «1 hryvnia», an Old Russian ornament and the logo of the NBU Banknote and Coin Mint. The year of minting — 2026 — is indicated at the bottom.
The reverse side replicates the design of the first grivna coin in circulation, which was in use until 2018 and is now gradually being withdrawn from circulation. Here, the denomination is placed in the centre within an ornamental frame, whilst the year ‘1996’ appears at the bottom. Andrii Sagach conceived the idea and adapted the design; the obverse was created by Volodymyr Demyanenko, and the reverse by Vasyl Lopata.
Where will the commemorative edition be on sale?
Buy a coin They will be available from the National Bank’s online shop for numismatic products and from distributor banks. A list of these is published on the regulator’s official website.
The NBU and the distributing banks will publish information about the start of sales on their official websites. The product has been issued in a limited edition of up to 5,000 pieces.
