Obverse. Photo © Bank of Russia
  • 25 Rubles 2020, Russia, Federation, Weapons Designers of the of Great Patriotic War Victory (1941-1945), Anatoly Maslov - Kirov-class Cruiser
  • 25 Rubles 2020, Russia, Federation, Weapons Designers of the of Great Patriotic War Victory (1941-1945), Anatoly Maslov - Kirov-class Cruiser
Description

The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland and other Allies, which encompassed Northern, Southern and Central and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945. It has been known as the Great Patriotic War in the former Soviet Union and in modern Russia.

The battles on the Eastern Front constituted the largest military confrontation in history. They were characterized by unprecedented ferocity, wholesale destruction, mass deportations, and immense loss of life due to combat, starvation, exposure, disease, and massacres. Of the estimated 70 million deaths attributed to World War II, over 30 million, many of them civilian, occurred on the Eastern Front. The Eastern Front was decisive in determining the outcome of the European portion of World War II, eventually serving as the main reason for the defeat of Nazi Germany. It resulted in the destruction of the Third Reich, the partition of Germany for nearly half a century and the rise of the Soviet Union as a military and industrial superpower.

Date of issue: 7 February 2020

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 BANK OF RUSSIA, 25 RUBLES and the date 2019 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.

Designer: E. V. Kramskaya
Sculptor: A. A. Dolgopolova

РОССИЙСКАЯ ФЕДЕРАЦИЯ
ММД
БАНК РОССИИ
25 РУБЛЕЙ
2020 г.

Reverse

Depicts a relief image of the Project 26 light cruiser and the inscription CRUISER KIROV below; along the rim there are the inscriptions WEAPONS OF THE GREAT VICTORY at the top and A.I. MASLOV at the bottom.

Anatoly Ioasafovich Maslov (1884–1968) was a Soviet shipbuilder and the chief designer of the Project 26 light cruiser Kirov, launched in 1936.

The Project 26 cruisers were the first large ships built in the Soviet Union. Due to a lack of experience in building such ships, they were designed on the basis of the light cruiser Eugenio di Savoia, whose blueprints were acquired from Italy. Owing to the cooperation with Italian experts, the development of the cruiser Kirov allowed the adoption and use of cutting-edge technology. That said, the Soviet cruiser was not merely a copy of the Italian prototype; on the contrary, it was the result of serious redevelopment. In particular, it boasted heavy artillery weapons, suitable for a heavy cruiser, and high durability.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Kirov actively participated in military operations in the Baltic Sea and took part in the defence of Tallinn and Leningrad, deflecting enemy air strikes, helping contain ground forces and supporting the assault of the Soviet Army. The Kirov came under heavy artillery and aerial attacks many times. It was seriously damaged a few times, but never sank.

In 1943, for model execution of combat missions against the Nazi German invaders, the cruiser Kirov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

Designer: A.V. Gnidin

ОРУЖИЕ ВЕЛИКОЙ ПОБЕДЫ
КРЕЙСЕР «КИРОВ»
А.И. МАСЛОВ

Edge

180 corrugations

Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 10 g
Diameter 27 mm
Thickness 2.3 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Moscow Mint (MMD)

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