Obverse. Photo © Aureo & Calicó
  • 20 Kwacha 2010, Schön# 196.4, Malawi, Palaces of St. Petersburg, Pavlovsk Palace
  • 20 Kwacha 2010, Schön# 196.4, Malawi, Palaces of St. Petersburg, Pavlovsk Palace
Description

Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, Saint Petersburg is not only a city rich in beauty and attractions, but it also served as the capital of Imperial Russia under the rule of the tsars. This has left the city with a remarkable historical legacy and an array of grand palaces from the tsarist era. Despite the fall of Tsarist Russia, many of these opulent structures remain, now preserved as key tourist attractions. The St. Petersburg palace coin series offers a glimpse into the lives of the city’s aristocratic families, such as the Yusupovs, Stroganovs, and Sheremetyevs, each palace holding its own secrets and stories.

Obverse

Depicts the coat of arms of Malawi, date below within a circle, country name above and denomination below surrounded by a beaded circle.

Malawi's coat of arms is based on Nyasaland's earlier heraldic arms. It features a shield supported by a lion and a leopard, standing on a representation of Mount Mulanje. The shield is divided into three parts: wavy lines symbolizing water, a central stripe with a lion representing strength, and a rising sun, symbolizing hope and new beginnings. Above the shield is a fish eagle in front of a rising sun, symbolizing freedom. The scroll below the shield bears the national motto, "Unity and Freedom," reflecting Malawi's goals of harmony and independence.

REPUBLIC OF MALAWI
UNITY AND FREEDOM
2010
MWK 20

Reverse

Depicts a multicolored courtyard of Pavlovsk Palace, with a monument to Emperor Paul I in front, surrounded by the series title "Palaces of St. Petersburg" above and palace name below.

Pavlovsk Palace, located in Saint Petersburg, was an 18th-century Russian Imperial residence built by Catherine the Great for her son, Grand Duke Paul, and later home to his widow, Maria Feodorovna. Designed by Charles Cameron, the palace features classical architecture, surrounded by a vast English-style garden with temples and picturesque pavilions. Following Paul's death and Catherine's passing, the palace became Maria Feodorovna's residence and was lavishly decorated with art and furnishings collected from Europe. Despite suffering a fire in 1803, it was restored by renowned architects like Carlo Rossi. Today, Pavlovsk Palace stands as a museum, showcasing its rich history and imperial grandeur.

The monument to Emperor Paul I was installed on June 29, 1872, in the parade ground in front of the main facade of Pavlovsk Palace. At the request of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich, owner of Pavlovsk, an exact replica of the Gatchina monument to Paul I by sculptor I. Vitali was created. The year of installation was significant, as Konstantin Nikolayevich also opened the Picture Gallery and Museum of Antiquities that year, transforming part of Pavlovsk Palace into a public museum similar to the New Hermitage. The statue, made from a zinc-based alloy common in the 19th century, stands on a brick pedestal clad in metal sheets. The base bears a bronze inscription: "To Emperor Paul I, founder of Pavlovsk, 1872." The emperor is depicted full-length in uniform, holding a cane and wearing a large tricorn hat. A flowerbed in the shape of a Maltese cross, surrounded by a low fence, was arranged around the monument.

PALACES OF ST. PETERSBURG
Императору Павлу I
основателю Павловска
1872 год
Pavlovsk
Palace

Edge

20 Kwacha

Republic
Schön# 196.4
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.999
Weight 31.1 g
Diameter 45 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal

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