Bank of Russia to issue commemorative coin

On 14 June, the Bank of Russia introduces into circulation a silver coin of 25 rubles. This silver piece, of the Architectural Monuments of Russia series, is devoted to the so?called Russian Parnassus — the memorial estate of Ostafyevo in the Moscow region.

Throughout the 19^th century, the history of the estate went hand in hand with the literary and art life of Moscow, as the estate played host to meetings and discussions of literary artists of several generations. This was the place where poet Vyazemsky entertained Pushkin, Griboyedov, Davydov, Gogol and Mickiewicz. Also, the estate was hosting, on many occasions, Karamzin, Zhukovsky as well as many other figures of literature and art.

The oldest element of the whole country estate is a 150-200 year-old avenue of limes. Legend has it that Pushkin called it ‘the Russian Parnassus’.

The back of the coin features the embossments of Ostafyevo’s façade and the colonnade gallery; the left bottom of the coin depicts a manuscript, an ink-pot and a quill with a portrait of Pushkin; the right-hand side presents Prince Vyazemsky’s coat of arms.

The circulation of the coin is one thousand pieces.