Catherine II. The Legislator

Obverse

in the centre of the disc, in the circle of dots - the Emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle with wings down), under it to the left – indications of the precious metal and its fineness, in the centre - the mint trade mark, to the right – the fine metal content; along the rim – semicircular inscriptions divided by two doubled rhombuses, on the top – the denomination and year of issue: "25 РУБЛЕЙ 1992" (25 RUBLES 1992), at the bottom: "БАНК РОССИИ" (BANK OF RUSSIA).

Reverse

in the centre of the disc - the relief portrait of Catherine II holding the scepter in her right hand and pointing with the left one to the credence table – the symbol of the self-sacrifice – and to books, in the background to the left – the fragment of a balustrade, behind it - a sailing ship; along the rim – semicircular inscriptions, above: "ЭПОХА ПРОСВЕЩЕНИЯ • XVIII В.", (THE AGE OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT. THE XVIII CENTURY), below: "ЕКАТЕРИНА II • ЗАКОНОДАТЕЛЬНИЦА". (CATHERINE II THE LEGISLATOR).

Authors

The artist and sculptor: A.V. Baklanov
Mint: Leningrad Mint (ЛМД)
The edge: 300 corrugations

Catherine II (1729-1796), born Sophie Augusta Frederica, the princess of Anhalt-Zerbst. Before the union in matrimony with the Emperor Peter III she adopted the Russian Orthodoxy and was renamed Ekaterina Alexeyevna. In 1762 after dethroning her husband she seized the throne as the Empress Catherine II. Before the French Revolution Catherine II followed the policy of enlightened absolutism in an effort to adjust Russian autocracy to the "spirit of the time" in accordance with the liberal philosophy of the Enlightenment. During her reign was the territory of the Russian Empire expended considerably and a great number of outstanding political and military leaders came to prominence. Like Peter the Great gained Catherine II the title Catherine the Great.