850 th Anniversary of Moscow

Obverse

the two-headed eagle designed by artist I. Bilibin. The inscriptions along the rim: at the top — «25 РУБЛЕЙ 1997 г.» (25 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 pictures of the Memorial Complex on Poklonaya Hill and of the Triumphal Arch in Moscow. The inscription at the top along the rim: «850-ЛЕТИЕ ОСНОВАНИЯ МОСКВЫ» (850 TH ANNIVERSARY OF MOSCOW).

Authors

The artist: A.V. Baklanov
The sculptor: I.S. Komshilov
St. Petersburg Mint (ЛМД)
The edge: 252 corrugations

The Monument to Defenders of the Motherland in the Victory Park that shows three fighting men of different generations – an ancient Russian knight, a soldier of the Patriotic War of 1812, and a soldier of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 – was erected by sculptor Anatoli Bichukov in 1995. To the right there is the Stele with the statue of Goddess of Victory by sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. The Memorial Complex was inaugurated on the 50th Anniversary of the Victory in 1995. The Triumphal Arch was first built of wood on Tverskaya Zastava Square to welcome the Russian troops coming back from Europe after they won a victory over Napoleon’s army. In 1827-1834 it was rebuilt of stone by architect Osip Bovet (sculptors I.P. Vitali and I.T. Timofeev), and it was dismantled when the square was reconstructed in 1936. In 1968 the Triumphal Arch was restored on Kutuzovski Prospect. It consists of six pairs of 12-meter cast-iron pillars. There are figures of Russian fighting men in the bays and above them there are high relieves such as «The Proscription of the French», «The Liberation of Moscow», etc. The 28-meter arch is crowned with the sculpture composition of the Chariot of Glory.