930) Palanok Castle, Ukraine: A set of two coins in the denominations of 5 Hrynia (Cupro-nickel) and 10 Hrynia (Silver) being issued by the National Bank of Ukraine commemorating one of Ukraine's most well known landmarks: Coin issue date: 26.02.2019:
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The National Bank of Ukraine is issuing two Collector Coins on 26.02.2019, which depict one of the country's well-known and revered National landmarks - the Palanok Castle.
These coins are dedicated to the ancient historical and military-architectural monument - which was one of the most original fortifications of the Middle Ages of Central Europe.
For centuries, it protected the city's inhabitants from enemies. During its existence, the fortress was rebuilt and refined more than once.
The castle was built in the Southwest of modern Mukachevo on a mountain of volcanic origin at an altitude of 188.0 metres (or about 600.0 feet) above sea level and 68.0 metres (or about 223.0 feet) above the central part of the city.
The history & layout:
The building plan of the castle complex consisted of three parts - The high, middle and the low castle, with the founding corner-stone for the castle having been laid sometime in the 14th Century by members of the Hungarian noble family Aba.
The castle was an important fortification of the Kingdom of Hungary, whose borders once stretched into modern-day Ukraine. The castle was later transformed into an impregnable fortress by French engineers after the storming of the Bastille - the famous French prison, after which, the Palanok Castle was used as an all-European political prison.
Throughout the ensuing centuries, the Castle served as a residence for many people, including the Koriatovych family for almost 200 years, the Serbian Prince Durad Brankovic, the Regent of Hungary Janos Hunyadi and the wife of a Hungarian king Laiosh Maria, among many others.
It was during the time of Prince Fedir Koriatovych, that the castle became one of the most protected castles in the region. The prince and his family lived in the highest part of the castle, which had lavishly decorated interiors.
Hungarian nobleman Francis II Rakoczi (1676-1735) later used the castle as the centre of a war of independence.
In 1726, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, granted Palanok Castle with the towns of Mukacheve, Chynadiyovo and 200 additional villages to the Elector Lothar Franz von Schonbom, who had elected and crowned him as von Schonbom and was one of his main political supporters within the Empire.
The Fort complex remained one of the largest in Eastern Europe and was continually owned by the von Schonbom family well into the 20th Century.
From 1796 to 1897, Palanok Castle was used as a prison and most notably, during 1805-1806, housed the Crown of St. Stephen, one of the most revered symbols of Hungarian nationhood.
At the end of 1944, the municipality of Munkacs, now known as Mukachevo, became part of the Soviet Union by a treaty with Czechoslovakia, the previous administration authority.
In 1991, Ukraine gained its second independence World War I and the city of Mukachevo was designated as a city of oblast significance, with its status being equal to that of a separate district.
The total area of the castle is currently laid out on 14,000 sq. metres and consists of 130 different rooms with a complex system of underground passages connecting them together. Presently, the castle houses a museum dedicated to the history of Mukachevo and the castle itself.
The Commemorative Coins:
The Obverse of the Cupro-Nickel 5 Hrvynia Coin shown against the background image of the Palanok castle
The Obverses of the 10 or 5 Hryvnia coin include a stylised image of the inner courtyard of the Castle, while on the background of the brick entrance gate is a small state emblem of Ukraine under which is the inscription "UKRAINE" (spelt in Ukrainian). On the lower periphery is the denomination of the coin "10" (silver coin) or "5" (Cupro-nickel) and the year of issue "2019".
The Reverses of the 10 or 5 Hryvnia Coins depict a centred representation of Palanok Castle, below which is a stylised reflection in the water of the old castle that is based on an image of the castle's ancient engravings.
In the centre is a stylised image of the well in which an antique coin is thrown and from which ripples of water move out. To the left and right are the inscriptions in Ukrainian translating into "CASTLE PALANO", which are bordered above and below with stone masonry and drawbridge chains.
The specifications of the two coins are:
1) Denomination: 5 Hryvnia; Metal Composition: Cupro-nickel; Diameter/Size: 35.0 mm; Weight: 16.5 grams; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated; Maximum Mintage: 40,000 pieces; Designers: Vladimir Taran, Alexander Haruk and Sergiy Haruk; Mint: Ukrainian Mint at their facilities in Kiev, on behalf of the National Bank of Ukraine; Year of issue: 2019.
2) Denomination: 10 Hryvnia; Metal Composition: .925 Silver; Diameter/Size: 38.6 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams; Coin Quality: Proof; Maximum Mintage: 3,000 pieces; Designers: Vladimir Taran, Alexander Haruk and Sergiy Haruk; Mint: Ukrainian Mint at their facilities in Kiev on behalf of the National Bank of Ukraine; Year of issue: 2019.
The Silver (Proof) coins are encapsulated and presented in a green National Bank of Ukraine branded case that is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
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