Donskoy Stauropegial Monastery, Moscow

Obverse

a relief image of the National Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation, above it along the rim the inscription in a semicircle ‘РОССИЙСКАЯ ФЕДЕРАЦИЯ’ (RUSSIAN FEDERATION) framed with paired diamonds on both sides, under the coat of arms are the chemical symbol and fineness of the metal on the left and fine metal content and the mint mark on the right, at the bottom centre in three lines are the inscription ‘БАНК РОССИИ’ (BANK OF RUSSIA), the coin denomination ‘25 РУБЛЕЙ’ (25 RUBLES), and the year of issue ‘2025 г.’ (2025).

Reverse

a relief image of the Donskoy Stauropegial Monastery against the background of the image of clouds, laser treated for matte finishing, and the inscriptions around the circumference: ‘ДОНСКОЙ МОНАСТЫРЬ’ (DONSKOY MONASTERY) at the top and ‘МОСКВА’ (MOSCOW) under a relief ornament at the bottom.

Authors

Designers: E.V. Kramskaya (obverse), O.G. Shepel (reverse).
Sculptors: A.A. Dolgopolova (obverse), O.G. Shepel (reverse).
Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint.
Edge: 252 corrugations.

Discover more

The Donskoy Monastery, dedicated to the Don Icon of the Mother of God, was founded in Moscow in 1593 to commemorate the city’s deliverance from the troops led by Crimean Khan Gazi II Giray. The founder of the monastery was Fyodor I, the third son of Ivan the Terrible.

In 1591 when Gazi II Giray already approached Moscow, Fyodor I gave an order to hold a procession with the Don Icon of the Mother of God around the city walls and to place the icon in the field church of the Russian army’s encampment afterwards. Fyodor I was praying in front of the icon all night to deliver Moscow from the invading forces. When the enemy troops advanced to the Russian army’s camp, there were several skirmishes, but a full-scale battle never commenced. Gazi II Giray’s army remained in position for around a day, only to flee in panic suddenly.

The Donskoy Monastery was built on the very spot where Russian soldiers were standing ready to battle with the Tatar troops. To honour the Don Icon of the Mother of God, a stone cathedral was erected, which later became known as the Small Cathedral. Large-scale stone construction began within the monastery in 1684. At first, a new cathedral was built to honour the Don Icon of the Mother of God, now called the Great Cathedral. From 1686 to 1711, the monastery walls with towers were erected, which share many architectural features with the walls of the Novodevichy Convent.

The Donskoy Monastery became the last to join the defensive belt of fortified monasteries and convents of Moscow designed to protect the city from the enemy.

Source: https://donskoi.org.