Estimate: 19.900 EURHersfeld Abbey,
1/2 Reichstaler 1621,
under Wilhelm V of Hesse-Kassel as administrator.
Condition: ef+
3018-589
Estimate: 9.890 EURFrance,
city of Besançon,
3 Pistols 1666 with title Charles V.
Condition: CH UNC
3019-931
Estimate: 5.800 EURHoly Roman Empire,
Bavaria, Chaise d'or (imperial shield)
1328-1347 under Emperor Louis IV.
Condition: ef
3020-009
Estimate: 3.680 EURGreece,
Eastern Celts,
Tetradrachm (3rd-2nd century BC).
Condition: ef
3020-877
Estimate: 485 EURArchbishopric of Salzburg,
Reichstaler 1654-1668
under Count Guidobald von Thun.
Condition: vf-ef
3019-824
Estimate: 350 EURGreat Britain,
Halfpenny-Token 1794,
Kent-Dover.
Condition: MS65 BN
3020-591
Estimate: 485 EURSaxony,
Siegesthaler 1871 under Johann.
Condition: vf-ef
3003-367
Estimate: 1.180 EURByzantine Empire,
Solidus (491-518)
under Anastasius the righteous.
Condition: vf-ef
3005-316
Estimate: 2.650 EURRoman Empire,
Sesterz (225-227) Orbiana,
wife of Severus Alexander.
Condition: ef
3020-873
Estimate: 1.950 EURKingdom of Bohemia,
Ducat 1676 under Leopold I.
Condition: vf
3021-518
Archive: People and Markets

Ukraine Plans to Rename Small Coins: ‘Kopiyka’ to Become ‘Shah’

By Sebastian Wieschowski

Central Bank Chief Andriy Pyshnyy stated that the term “Kopiyka” is viewed as a symbol of historical Moscow occupation and is thus outdated. “The Ukrainian people are reclaiming what has been distorted and stolen by Kremlin narratives,” Pyshnyy said in a statement.

Content

Ukraine gives a new name to its currency subdivision. Photo: National Bank of Ukraine.

Ukraine gives a new name to its currency subdivision. Photo: National Bank of Ukraine.

With the new name “Shah,” Ukraine aims to revive its numismatic history and bring Ukrainian traditions into cash circulation. According to the National Bank, the term “Shah” is uniquely Ukrainian, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries where it was frequently used in literature. Authors like Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka mentioned the term in their works, and during the Ukrainian revolution of 1917–1921, even banknotes featuring “Shah” were circulated.

Part of a Strategy for ‘De-Russification’


The planned renaming is part of a broader strategy for ‘De-Russification’ in Ukraine, according to the National Bank. The term ‘Kopiyka’ is rooted in Russian tradition. By introducing ‘Shah,’ Ukraine seeks to symbolically break away from these influences, cleansing its currency of Russian and imperial associations.

The 50 Kopiyka coin was first minted in 1992 and most recently in 2023. Photo: National Bank of Ukraine.

The 50 Kopiyka coin was first minted in 1992 and most recently in 2023. Photo: National Bank of Ukraine.

Rediscovering Ukrainian Heritage


In the coming months, legislative changes are expected to pave the way for the official introduction of ‘Shahs’. A direct exchange of the current ‘Kopiykas’ is not planned, and both coins will continue to circulate for the time being, easing the transition and avoiding additional costs from a complete coin replacement. The design and gradual circulation of ‘Shahs’ will be developed by the National Bank once the legal basis is in place.

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