Thursday, 19 November 2020

1560) "Snegurochka", the Snow Maiden, Solomon Islands: The second Coin in the Coin Series: A $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin released by Solomon Islands: Year of Coin issue: 2020 (with Year of issue engraved as 2021):

1560) "Snegurochka", the Snow Maiden, Solomon Islands: The second Coin in the Coin Series: A $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin released by Solomon Islands: Year of Coin issue: 2020 (with Year of issue engraved as 2021):

"Snehgurochka" (or "Snegurka") or "The Snow Maiden" is a character in Russian Fairy Tales which first appeared in Russian folklore in the 19th Century.

She is also depicted as the granddaughter and helper of Ded Moroz, (a legendary figure similar to Father Christmas and Santa Claus who has his roots in Slavic mythology. The tradition of Ded Moroz is mostly spread in East Slavic countries and is an important part of Russian culture), during New Year parties for children. 

The Reverse and Obverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Silver Coin from the Solomon Islands depicting Snehgurochka. The Coin comes packaged/housed inside two colourful Matryoshka Dolls that mimic the design displayed on the Silver Coin

In the late Russian Empire, Snehgurochka was part of Christmas celebrations, in the form of figurines to decorate the fir tree and as a character in children's pieces, along with Ded Moroz. In this role, she wears long blue robes and a furry cap or a snow-flake like crown.

In the early Soviet Union, the holiday of Christmas was banned, together with other Christian traditions, until it was reinstated as a holiday of the Russian Federation in 1991.

Present Day:

Presently, in Russia, Santa Claus is known as "Father Frost", But, he is not the most well-known character in Russian folktales.

That honour goes to his granddaughter and constant helper - "Snegurochka" - the "Snow Maiden". Usually dressed in a blue fur coat and crown, the traditional image of the Snow Maiden is of a slim, blonde girl who is exceptionally kind. She travels with her grandfather, helping him distribute gifts among children.

Matryoshka Dolls (or "Little Matron"):

A set of Matryoshka Dolls consists of a wooden figure, which separates at the middle, top from bottom, to reveal a smaller figure of the same design, which in turn has, another figure inside it and so on.

The first Russian nested doll set was made in 1890 by wood turning craftsman and wood carver Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter at Abramtsevo.

Traditionally, the outer layer is a woman, dressed in a sarafan (a long and shapeless traditional Russian peasant jumper dress.

The figures inside may be of any gender, the smallest, innermost doll is typically a baby turned from a single piece of wood. The dolls often follow a theme, say from Russian fairy tales.

The Commemorative Coin:

This is the Second Coin in the Series after Father Frost.

The coin has been well-crafted from hand-selected planchets, polished dies and multiple strikes to bring out beautifully frosted details rising over mirror like fields.

On the Reverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Oval-shaped Silver Coin is depicted "Snegurochka" in full colour.

With her hair braided in a long pony tail, she is depicted with a vibrant smile gliding through the woods dressed in traditional blue attire. Besides her is a deer fawn.

On the Obverse of the $5 (Five Dollars) Oval-shaped Silver Coin  is seen an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, whose initials "IRB" appear below the Queen's neck.

The peripheral inscriptions are - "ELIZABETH II. SOLOMON ISLANDS. $5. 1 OZ. AG 999".

The specifications of this coin are:

Country of issue: Solomon Islands; Denomination: $5 (Five Dollars); Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 31.1 grams or 1.0 Oz; Diameter/Size: 48.0 mm x 30.3 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Year of issue: 2020 (engraved as 2021). 

The Coin comes packaged/housed inside two colourful Matryoshka Dolls that mimic the design displayed on the Silver Coin.





Links to posts on Australia, New Zealand and Countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific etc on this Blog: 



 3) Currency & Coinage of the Solomon Islands: Dollars and Cents

4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards

5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc  

6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)

7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene 

8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji 

9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979 

10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents 

11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms 

12) The story of the Australian Penny 

13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009 

14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman 

15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues 

16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017














"Australian Shipwrecks" Coin Series:


Links to interesting Posts on coins from Tuvalu Islands:




Link to Posts from Tokelau:
Links to posts on issues from the Republic of Palau:

Links to Posts on coin issues from Niue Islands:








Links to posts on Coin issues from Solomon Islands:



Other links to interesting posts on Coins brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of other countries:









The 7-Summits Silver Coin Series:

Links on Batman and Superman Posts on this Blog:

Links to posts on Russian Coins, Banknotes and stamps:

1) A 100 Rouble Banknote issued by Russia to commemorate the XXII Winter Olympics - (07-23 February 2014) held at Sochi, Russia

2) Commemorative Coins issued when the 1980 22nd Summer Olympics were held in Moscow (19.07.1980 to 03.08.1980)

3) 2018 "Federation Internationale de Football Association" (FIFA) World Cup being held in Russia between 14.06.2018 &15.07.2018: Some Coins and stamps issued by Russia, Australia, Hungary, Spain & France to commemorate the Tournament/Championship

4) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Kholmogory post road (Arkhangelsk - Vologda - Yaroclavi - Moscow), Russia: Europa 2020 theme: A stamp brought out by "Pochta Rossii"(Russian Post) featuring this important post road: Date of Stamp issue: 15.01.2020


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