Russia, Federation 25 Rubles 2021

History

25 Rubles 2021, Russia, Federation, First Human Spaceflight, 60th Anniversary

Obverse. Photo © Bank of Russia

Description

On April 12, 1961, the USSR opened the era of manned spaceflight, with the flight of the first cosmonaut (Russian name for space travelers), Yuri Gagarin. Gagarin's flight, part of the Soviet Vostok space exploration program, took 108 minutes and consisted of a single orbit of the Earth.

Gagarin thus became both the first human to travel into space and the first to orbit the Earth. His call sign was Kedr (Siberian pine or Cedar).

The radio communication between the launch control room and Gagarin included the following dialogue at the moment of rocket launch:

Korolev: "Preliminary stage..... intermediate..... main..... lift off! We wish you a good flight. Everything is all right."
Gagarin: "Poyekhali!" (Let's go!).

Gagarin's informal poyekhali! became a historical phrase in the Eastern Bloc, used to refer to the beginning of the Space Age in human history.

Date of issue: 31.03.2021

Obverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Eagle Coat of arms Russian Federation Rider Horseman 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 inscriptions BANK OF RUSSIA and 25 RUBLES, the date 2021 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. Artist: E. V. Kramskaya Sculptor: A. A. Dolgopolova РОССИЙСКАЯ ФЕДЕРАЦИЯ ММД БАНК РОССИИ 25 РУБЛЕЙ 2021 г.
Reverse	Colorised Aviation & astronautics Human spaceflight Geography & astronomy Star Depicts a relief image of a flying winged human figure against the background of a coloured stylised image of the sky full of stars; there are inscriptions: "12 APRIL 1961" at the top along the inner rim and "THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT" on the ring. Artists: A. A. Brynza, L. A. Evdokimova Sculptor: A. V. Gnidin 12 АПРЕЛЯ 1961 г. 60 ЛЕТ ПЕРВОГО ПОЛЕТА ЧЕЛОВЕКА В КОСМОС
Edge	Reeded (milled) 180 corrugations