“35 Years of Struggle for the Future”: NBU issues silver coin with shield and children’s drawing (photo)

August 24, 2026 – On Ukraine’s Independence Day, the National Bank put into circulation a commemorative silver coin dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the proclamation of independence. The presentation took place in the Verkhovna Rada – where 35 years ago, on August 24, 1991, the historic Act was adopted.

For every Ukrainian, this coin is not just a collectible item. It is a reminder of what the country has gone through and continues to endure today. It holds pain and hope, loss and faith in victory.

This is not just an anniversary coin. It is a symbol that reflects everything the country has experienced over the years. And especially – over the past four and a half years of full-scale war. That is why the image chosen for the coin is not ceremonial, but severe, even harsh. A damaged shield, a warrior’s hand, a child’s drawing as a reminder of what is being defended – the future.

Andriy Pyshnyi, NBU Governor, said at the presentation:

“When we were looking for an image that would best embody the 35 years of Ukraine’s Independence, we chose a shield. It has taken blows but did not break, it withstood. This is a metaphor for Ukraine. And the hand of a Ukrainian warrior firmly holding this shield reminds us that independence is defended by people, by Ukrainian warriors. They defend it for the sake of a future symbolized by a simple children’s drawing – a child, a heart, the sun, a home – just like all true values.”

And this is perhaps the most accurate description of what is happening in the country today.

As reported on the regulator’s website, the coin continues the “Ukrainian State” series.

What is depicted

On the obverse – a soldier’s hand gripping a shield. At the top – a children’s drawing serving as a talisman for the defender. The inscription around the edge: “35 Years of Struggle for the Future”.

On the reverse – the outer side of the shield with damage. Bullet marks, scratches, dents. No embellishment. No gloss. This is exactly what Ukrainian independence looks like now – scarred, but unbroken.

As Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, noted at the presentation:

“Today’s day has demonstrated a very important component of our unity. Different parliamentarians, different people, different eras, but everyone shares one goal – to do everything to ensure that Ukraine endures, that Ukraine wins. The grandeur of this moment should be captured in symbols that will carry this message to future generations, including in Ukrainian money.”

Technical specifications

• Denomination: 20 hryvnias
• Metal: 925 sterling silver
• Fine precious metal weight: 62.2 g
• Quality of minting: “special uncirculated” with patination and local gilding
• Mintage: up to 5,000 pieces
• Artist: Andriy Sahach

The edge of the coin is smooth with incised inscriptions.

Where to buy

The coin will be available for purchase in the NBU’s online numismatic products store, as well as through distributing banks, the list of which is published on the regulator’s official website. Specific sale start dates and prices have not yet been announced.

The mintage of 5,000 pieces is expected to sell out quickly. It is worth noting that the NBU regularly issues such coins. For example, as we previously reported, a similar situation occurred with the «Bandura» coin – it became a collector’s rarity within the first weeks after its release.

What lies behind this symbol

35 years of independence is not just a round date. It is three and a half decades that encompassed the hopes of the 90s, disappointments, two revolutions, and a war that has been going on for more than a decade. And the fact that in 2026 the NBU chose precisely such an image for the commemorative coin – without pathos, with a damaged shield and a children’s drawing – speaks to the maturity of the state approach.

This is not an attempt to embellish reality. It is an acknowledgment of it as it is. And gratitude to those who hold this shield. Every day. Under shelling. In the trenches. On the home front. In hospitals. In Points of Invincibility. Because independence in 2026 is not just a political status. It is a daily choice. And a daily struggle.

The coin will go on sale in the near future. For collectors, it is undoubtedly a valuable piece. For everyone else, it is another reminder of the price of freedom. And that the child’s drawing on the shield is not just a picture. It is the reason why Ukrainians do not give up.