NBU has issued a unique octagonal coin dedicated to Ukrainian artist Alexandra Exter
Kyiv • UNN
The NBU has issued a silver octagonal coin with a face value of 10 hryvnias in honor of Alexandra Exter. The mintage of the coin, which features color printing, is up to 10,000 pieces.
The National Bank of Ukraine has put into circulation a commemorative coin "Ukrainian Avant-Garde. Alexandra Exter," dedicated to a prominent figure of the 20th-century European avant-garde – Alexandra Exter, a Ukrainian artist, educator, and one of the founders of the Art Deco style, UNN reports, citing the NBU.
Details
According to the National Bank, the issuance of this commemorative coin launches a new direction in the National Bank's numismatic program dedicated to the theme of the Ukrainian avant-garde, honoring the contribution of Alexandra Exter and Ukrainian artists who were distinguished by bold creative experiments and contributed to the establishment of Ukrainian art within the context of world culture.
The new coin was presented by the Governor of the National Bank, Andriy Pyshnyy, during the opening of the exhibition "Avant-Garde Women" at the Museum of the Avant-Garde (a branch of the Museum of the History of the City of Kyiv) – an art project dedicated to outstanding Ukrainian female artists whose work became an integral part of the European avant-garde and world modernism. The event was attended by representatives of state bodies and the financial sector, the art and museum community, international diplomatic circles, and others.
"With the presentation of the commemorative coin dedicated to Alexandra Exter, we are starting a new direction. This is our next step to reclaim what is ours. To provide an understanding that Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian avant-garde, and modernism were self-sufficient, and this self-sufficiency resonates on a global level. There was no place for Alexandra Exter in the empire – and she brought Ukrainian context, rhythm, and colors to European culture. Her name resonates throughout the world today, and the National Bank of Ukraine, by engraving Ukrainian avant-garde artists in metal, will do everything to ensure that Ukrainians know more about their cultural heritage and take pride in their self-sufficiency," emphasized National Bank Governor Andriy Pyshnyy.
"This exhibition is about women who carried out a true artistic revolution. They were not afraid of experiments, sought new ideas, and shaped the avant-garde on par with the most famous artists of their time. Today we have the opportunity to take a fresh look at their contribution and once again see how important these voices were for the development of Ukrainian art," noted Viktoria Mukha, Director General of the Museum of the History of the City of Kyiv.
Yuriy Komelkov, head of the Museum of the Avant-Garde, said: "The Ukrainian avant-garde is one of the most brilliant artistic phenomena that shaped not only our cultural space but also influenced world art. It is important for us to show it not as a page of the past, but as a living process that continues to resonate today. It is especially valuable that this project unites different formats and partnerships, in particular, cooperation with the National Bank of Ukraine. Such initiatives help to rediscover Ukrainian art for a wider audience in a new way."
About the coin design
The commemorative coin "Ukrainian Avant-Garde. Alexandra Exter" has a face value of 10 hryvnias. It is made in the shape of an octagon from 999 fine silver, with a "special uncirculated" minting quality category, and a fine precious metal weight of 31.1 g. The decorative element is color printing. The edge of the coin is smooth.
The obverse of the coin features a distinct sketch of a theatrical costume for a Spanish dance with colored elements by Alexandra Exter in the center against a mirror background, emphasizing her unique creative style.
Permission to use this "Spanish Dance" sketch in the design of the commemorative coin was granted by the Museum of Theater, Music, and Cinema of Ukraine, for which the National Bank expresses its gratitude to the museum team.
At the top of the obverse is the small State Coat of Arms of Ukraine; to the right of the sketch is the vertical inscription ALEXANDRA EXTER and the logo of the Banknote Printing and Minting Works of the National Bank; to the left of the sketch is the denomination 10 with the graphic symbol of the hryvnia ₴, the inscription UKRAINE, and the year of minting – 2026.
The reverse of the coin features a stylized fragment of a theater stage design against a mirror background as a reference to the scenographic works of Alexandra Exter, which were distinguished by expression and an innovative understanding of stage space.
Artist – Mykola Kovalenko. Sculptor – Anatoliy Demianenko.
About the sale of the coin
The commemorative coin "Ukrainian Avant-Garde. Alexandra Exter" was put into circulation on May 22, 2026. Its mintage is up to 10,000 pieces.
This coin will be available for purchase at the NBU numismatic online store from June 2, 2026, as well as from distributor banks.