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On April 27, the National Bank of Ukraine continued its "Chernobyl Renaissance" thematic series with the issuance of a new coin dedicated to the European bison, a species included on the Ukrainian list of endangered species since 1980.
Even four decades later, the 30-kilometer exclusion zone and the unconditional resettlement zone, established after the Chernobyl disaster, remain restricted areas due to radioactive contamination. However, the absence of human influence has created ideal conditions for the natural restoration of ecosystems.
Since April 26, 2016, these processes have been supported by the Chernobyl Radioactive and Ecological Biosphere Reserve, which has become a sanctuary for the recovery of both common species and those included on Ukraine's list of endangered species.
EUROPEAN BISON
The European bison (Bison bonasus) is the largest land animal in Europe. Adults can reach up to 3 meters in length and 2 meters in height at the shoulder, with a weight that usually exceeds 500 kg and sometimes reaches 800 kg. On average, males live about 22 years, while females can live up to 27 years.
Bison are considered "ecosystem engineers": among other functions, they shape the vegetation cover and modify the soil structure.
The European bison was once widespread across Asia and Europe, including what is now Ukraine. However, its population declined drastically between the 17th and 19th centuries, primarily due to poaching. In 1980, the bison was listed as an endangered species in Ukraine. Today, the species can only be conserved in areas under strict conservation regimes.
The Chernobyl exclusion zone is considered a promising habitat for the recovery of the bison population. The first signs of bison activity within its boundaries were detected in April 2012; in subsequent years, both cameras and researchers have repeatedly recorded their presence in various parts of the exclusion zone.
In 2022, a unique international project to recover the bison population in the Chernobyl Reserve was scheduled to be implemented. All preparatory work had been completed; however, these efforts were disrupted by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
5 GRIVNA COIN
Reverse
The reverse of the coin features a European bison printed in color against a natural landscape silhouette. The inscription "ЗУБР / BISON BONASUS" is located in the upper right corner, while a tender scene of a bison and its calf is depicted on the left.
Obverse
The obverse features, at the top, the small Coat of Arms of the State of Ukraine alongside the inscriptions: УКРАЇНА (UKRAINE), and to the left, the face value of the coin: 5 hryvnias. In the center of the design is a symbolic wheel of life, representing the rebirth of nature. At the center of this wheel is the international radiation threat symbol entwined with leaves, surrounded by animals whose populations thrive in the 30-kilometer exclusion zone, which has become a kind of breeding reserve. These animals include black storks, Przewalski's horses, lynx, bison, moose, and brown bears. Surrounding the composition are the inscriptions: "CHERNOBYL RADIATION RESERVE AND ECOLOGICAL BIOSPHERE," the mint mark of the National Bank of Ukraine above, and the year of minting, 2026.
PRESENTATION
Coin characteristics
Country: Ukraine
Year of issue: 2026
Singing: Fluted
Quality: Special Uncirculated
Diameter: 35 mm
Face value: 5 hryvnias
Design: Nataliia Fandikova
Metal: Alpaca Alloy
Weight: 16.54 g
Maximum print run: 40,000
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