Penza

Obverse

the denomination of the coin ‘10 РУБЛЕЙ’ (10 RUBLES) with images of the number ‘10’ and the inscription ‘РУБ’ (RUB) hidden within the figure ‘0’ and alternately visible when the angle of view changes, stylised images of laurel and oak branches on the left and on the right, respectively, the inscription ‘БАНК РОССИИ’ (BANK OF RUSSIA) along the top rim, the year of issue ‘2026’ along the bottom rim, and the mint mark at the bottom right.

Reverse

a relief image of a fragment of the design of the City of Labour Valour stele and the inscriptions on the outer ring ‘ПЕНЗА’ (PENZA) at the top and ‘ГОРОДА ТРУДОВОЙ ДОБЛЕСТИ’ (CITIES OF LABOUR VALOUR) at the bottom along the ribbon.

Authors

Designer: A.A. Brynza.
Sculptor: A.V. Gnidin.
Mint: Moscow Mint (ММД).
Edge: 6 sections with 5 corrugations and 6 sections with 7 corrugations alternated with 12 smooth sections.

Discover more

Penza was awarded the honorary title City of Labour Valour for the great contribution of its residents to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, uninterrupted manufacture of military and civilian products at industrial enterprises and people’s labour heroism and commitment.

Following the outbreak of the war, 65 various industrial enterprises were evacuated to the Penza Region. As a result, the city became a major centre for the production of weapons and ammunition. Every fourth Soviet aerial bomb, mine and artillery shell was filled with components manufactured in Penza.

Penza railway workers performed a remarkable feat during the evacuation of plants, factories, and people from the western regions of the USSR engulfed by military activities. Trains carrying Red Army soldiers and military equipment ran through Penza to Stalingrad without interruption. For ensuring the smooth movement of trains with military supplies and for their work during the evacuation, the workers of the Signalling and Communication Division of the Penza railway received the Challenge Red Banner of the State Defence Committee in August 1943.

Evacuated production facilities arriving in Penza were included in existing enterprises, forming new large plants and factories that produced shells, mines, aerial bombs, mortars, and aircraft spare parts.

In 1943, Plant No. 807, which manufactured mine fuses, mortar sights, and control instruments for anti-aircraft units, was recognised as the best in the USSR according to the results of the all-union socialist competition. The plant maintained its leading role until the end of the war. The plant received the Red Banner of the State Defence Committee 24 times; therefore, in 1946, the banner was permanently entrusted to the plant. In September 1946, the plant was awarded the Order of the Great Patriotic War of the 1st class.

The Penza Bicycle Plant named after M.V. Frunze became an important supplier of fuses for artillery guns and mortars, including the famous Katyusha rocket launchers. Over the four war years, its workers manufactured more than 111 million fuses. In 1943, the bicycle plant was awarded the Challenge Red Banner of the Central Committee of the All Union Communist Party, and in 1945, it was awarded the Order of Lenin.

In November 1941, the Penzatekstilmash Plant began producing artillery shells, mines, and aerial bombs. From April to October 1942, the plant’s output massively increased by 469%.

Beginning from January 1942, the Penzmash Plant produced 30 Katyusha rocket launcher systems, 100–120 regimental mortars and 1,000 company mortars, as well as 300,000 mines and 5,000–6,000 aerial bombs each month.

The output of the Penza Defence Plant was of paramount importance to the entire Soviet aviation industry. Workers quickly mastered the production of wings, tail assemblies, fuel tanks, flaps, and landing gear for I-153 and I-16 fighter aircraft. Throughout the war years, the plant repaired and returned to the front 40–60 fighters every month.

Over 13,000 residents of Penza were awarded the medal For Valorous Labour during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.

Sources: https://may9.ru, Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No. 304, dated 20 May 2021, ‘On Awarding the Honorary Title of the Russian Federation City of Labour Valour’.