850 th Anniversary of Moscow

Obverse

the two-headed eagle designed by artist I. Bilibin.The inscriptions along the rim: at the top —«3 РУБЛЯ 1997 г.» (3 RUBLES 1997),at the bottom — «БАНК РОССИИ» (BANK OF RUSSIA).The letters below indicate the metal sign, the fineness, the fine metal content and the mint trademark.

Reverse

the picture of ancient builders, Moscow Kremlin and theRiver Moskva. The inscription at the top along the rim:«850-ЛЕТИЕ ОСНОВАНИЯ МОСКВЫ» (850th ANNIVERSARY OF MOSCOW).

Authors

The artist: A.V. Baklanov
The sculptor: A.A. Dolgopolova
Moscow Mint (ММД)
The edge: 300 corrugations

The history of Moscow Kremlin began long before the first reference to Moscow in the chronicles dated 1147. Recent archaeological excavations have uncovered traces of the ancient Moscow fortress built in the Xth and in the early XIth centuries. The Kremlin was completely built by the beginning of the XVIth century. Its walls – 2,235 meter long, from 3.5 to 6.5 meter thick and from 5 to 19 meter high – are connected by 20 towers. This coin is decorated with a miniature from «The Annalist Code» of the XVIth Century.