Obverse. Photo © Monetnik.ru
  • 20 Kwacha 2010, Schön# 196.1, Malawi, Palaces of St. Petersburg, Peterhof Palace
  • 20 Kwacha 2010, Schön# 196.1, Malawi, Palaces of St. Petersburg, Peterhof 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 view of the spectacular Grand Cascade in front of the Grand Palace facade with a focus of one of the Fountains of Peterhof at the left depicting a Triton grappling with the jaws of the sea monster, surrounded by the series title "Palaces of St. Petersburg" left and palace name below.

The Peterhof Palace (an emulation of early modern Dutch "Pieterhof", meaning "Pieter's Court") is a series of palaces and gardens located in Petergof, Saint Petersburg, Russia, commissioned by Peter the Great as a direct response to the Palace of Versailles by Louis XIV of France. Originally intending it in 1709 for country habitation, Peter the Great sought to expand the property as a result of his visit to the French royal court in 1717, inspiring the nickname of "The Russian Versailles". The architect between 1714 and 1728 was Domenico Trezzini, and the style he employed became the foundation for the Petrine Baroque style favored throughout Saint Petersburg. Also in 1714, Jean-Baptiste Alexandre Le Blond, likely chosen due to his previous collaborations with Versailles landscaper André Le Nôtre, designed the gardens. Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli completed an expansion from 1747 to 1756 for Elizabeth of Russia. The palace-ensemble along with the city center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most famous ensemble of fountains, the Grand Cascade, which runs from the northern facade of the Grand Palace to the Marine Canal, comprises 64 different fountains, and over 200 bronze statues, bas-reliefs, and other decorations. At the centre stands Rastrelli's spectacular statue of Samson wrestling the jaws of a lion. The vista of the Grand Cascade with the Grand Palace behind it, the first sight to great visitors who arrive in Peterhof by sea, is truly breathtaking. The Grotto behind the Grand Cascade, which was once used for small parties, contains the enormous pipes, originally wooden, that feed the fountains.

PALACES OF ST. PETERSBURG
Peterhof

Edge

20 Kwacha

Republic
Schön# 196.1
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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