Obverse. Photo © Bank of Russia
  • 50 Rubles 2016, Russia, Federation, The 150th Anniversary of Foundation of the Russian Historical Society, Nestor the Chronicler
  • 50 Rubles 2016, Russia, Federation, The 150th Anniversary of Foundation of the Russian Historical Society, Nestor the Chronicler
Description

The Imperial Russian Historical Society was a public organization of Imperial Russia. It was subject to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Education. It was founded in 1866 and dissolved in 1917. It published studies on Russian history and historical documents connected with the Imperial Russian state. It is most notable as the publisher of the Russian Biographical Dictionary. Its emblem was an image of the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky.

Saint Nestor the Chronicler (c. 1056 – c. 1114) was the reputed author of the Primary Chronicle, (the earliest East Slavic chronicle), Life of the Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Caves, Life of the Holy Passion Bearers, Boris and Gleb, and of the so-called Reading.

His chronicle begins with the Deluge, as those of most Christian chroniclers of the time did. The compiler appears to have been acquainted with the Byzantine historians; he makes use especially of John Malalas and George Hamartolus. He also had in all probability other Slavonic language chronicles to compile from, which have since been lost. Many legends are mixed up with Nestor's Chronicle; the style is occasionally so poetical that perhaps he incorporated bylinas which are now lost.

Obverse

In the centre the relief image of the National Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation, above the semicircular inscription along the rim THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION framed on both sides by ornamental elements of doubled rhombuses, in the lower part of the disc, at the edge the horizontal inscription 50 RUBLES and the date 2016 under it, over it to the right the mint trade mark.

The two main elements of Russian state symbols (the two-headed eagle and the mounted figure slaying the dragon) predate Peter the Great. Today, however, the official description does not refer to the rider on the central shield as representing Saint George, mainly in order to maintain the secular character of the modern Russian state. The imperial crowns on each head stand for the unity and sovereignty of Russia, both as a whole and in its constituent republics and regions. The orb and scepter grasped in the eagle's talons are traditional heraldic symbols of sovereign power and authority. They have been retained in the modern Russian arms despite the fact that the Russian Federation is not a monarchy.

РОССИЙСКАЯ ФЕДЕРАЦИЯ
Au 999 7,78
ММД
БАНК РОССИИ
50 РУБЛЕЙ
2016 г.

Reverse

On the mirror field of the disc is the relief image of the sculpture "Nestor the Chronicler" by M. Antokolsky, along the rim the inscription: "RUSSIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOUNDED IN 1866".

РУССКОЕ ИСТОРИЧЕСКОЕ ОБЩЕСТВО
ОСН. в 1866 г.

Edge

134 corrugations

Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.999
Weight 7.89 g
Diameter 22.6 mm
Thickness 1.6 mm
Shape round
Alignment -
Mint
Saint Petersburg Mint (SPMD)

Related coins

Monument to Minin and Pozharsky

The 150th Anniversary of Foundation of the Russian Historical Society

Nickel Plated Steel, 6 g, ⌀ 25 mm