Russia, Federation 2 Rubles 2017

History

2 Rubles 2017, CBR# 5710-0018, Russia, Federation, Hero Cities, Kerch

Obverse. Photo © Bank of Russia

Description

Hero City is a Soviet honorary title awarded for outstanding heroism during World War II (Eastern Front was known in the former Soviet Union as The Great Patriotic War). It was awarded to twelve cities of the Soviet Union. According to the statute, the hero city is issued the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

From 1941 to 1945, Kerch was the site of heavy fighting between Soviet Army and Axis forces. After fierce fighting, the city was taken by the Germans in November 1941. On 31 December 1941 the 302nd Mountain Rifle Division recaptured the city following a naval landing operation at Kamysh Burun, to the south of the city, five days earlier. In 1942 the Germans occupied the city again. The Red Army lost over 160,000 men, either killed or taken POW at the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula. On 31 October 1943 another Soviet naval landing operation was launched. Kerch returned to Soviet control on 11 April 1944.

The German invaders killed about 15,000 citizens and deported another 14,000 during their occupation. Evidence of German atrocities in Kerch was presented in the Nuremberg trials. Kerch was awarded the title Hero City in 1973.

Date of issue: 20.04.2017

Obverse	Tree, flower, plant etc. Vine In the centre, a little to the left denomination of the coin: the figure 2 and words under it RUBLES and BANK OF RUSSIA written horizontal, below along the rim and on the right part of the disc the stylized vegetable ornament (vine sprig) in form of a branch with two interwoven caulescents, to the right at the rim the Moscow Mint's trademark (MMD). 2 РУБЛЯ БАНК РОССИИ 2017 ММД
Reverse	Military Marines, naval infantry Order, medal etc. Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union World War II Depicts an image of soldiers making a landing during the Kerch–Eltigen Operation, above on the left the image of the Gold Star medal, at the bottom along the rim the inscription KERCH. The Kerch–Eltigen Operation was a World War II amphibious offensive made in November 1943 by the Red Army as a precursor to the Crimean Offensive with the object of defeating and forcing the withdrawal of the German forces from the Crimea. Landing at two locations on Crimea's eastern coast, the Red Army successfully reinforced the northern beachhead of Yenikale but was unable to prevent an Axis counter-attack that collapsed the southern beachhead at Eltigen. Subsequently, the Red Army used the beachhead at Yenikale to launch further offensive operations into Crimea in May 1944. Artists: A. V. Baklanov, S. A. Kornilov Sculptor: A. V. Gnidin КЕРЧЬ
Edge	Interrupted reeded 12 sections with 7 corrugations