NBU released a coin of 150 years since the birth of Alexander Koshits

Coin: 150 years since the birth of Alexander Kosice Photo: NBU

By the 150th anniversary of Alexander Kosice’s birth, the National Bank dedicated a commemorative coin. She continues the series of “outstanding personalities of Ukraine”. Thanks to the prominent Ukrainian choral conductor Alexander Koshitsa, the world first heard the Shchedryk – a work that later became world -famous as “Carol of the Bells”. The NBU reported on September 12.

Coin: 150 years since the birth of Alexander Kosice Photo: NBU

In 1919, the artist created a Ukrainian Republican Chapel – a professional choir that was supposed to represent Ukraine abroad. Under his gun, the chapel made a grand five -year tour of more than 17 countries, giving about 600 concerts. The repertoire of the chapel consisted of the processing of folk songs, spiritual music and works of Ukrainian composers adapted for the Western stage. Alexander Kosice’s conductor style – without a stick, only with eyes, hands and facial expressions – was distinguished by emotionality, plasticity and deep understanding of folklore. His art was striking the demanding audience and giving Ukrainian songs to the Ukrainian song so that it could fly over the borders as a voice of a nation seeking freedom, dignity and recognition.

Coin: 150 years since the birth of Alexander Kosice Photo: NBU

The obverse depicts a composition that symbolizes the touring activity of the Ukrainian Republican Chapel under the guidance of Alexander Koshits. The central place is occupied by a stylized tour of the touring route, which indicates the names of the cities where the chapel performed. Between the names of cities – silhouettes of swallows as a metaphor of spiritual flight, free movement and spread of Ukrainian art in the world.

Coin: 150 years since the birth of Alexander Kosice Photo: NBU

On the reverse in the center of the composition – a stylized portrait of Alexander Koshits. Particular attention is focused on the hands of the artist – his main “instrument” of the conductor. The background is a wavy, dynamic surface that diverges from the coat of arms of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, symbolizing the spread of Ukrainian culture by the world through a tour of the chapel.

• The coin has a denomination of 2 hryvnias and is made of nyzylber;
• Circulation – up to 50 thousand pieces in souvenir pack;
• Artists: Vladimir Taran, Oleksandr Kharuk, Sergey Haruk; Sculptor – Vladimir Atamanchuk.

The commemorative coins “150 years since the birth of Alexander Koshits” will be sold in the online store from September 16, 2025 as they are shipped to the NBU Banknote and Mint. The implementation of the exitants (the list of which is nurtured on the NBU website) will be carried out gradually after receiving commemorative coins from the NBU. You can find more information about the start of sales and the sale point on their official sites.

The gun