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The Bank of Russia expands its "Red Book" numismatic series with three new coins dedicated to the Caucasian wildcat, the spectacled eider and the toad-headed agama, species whose survival is threatened by habitat loss, human activity and environmental changes.
The three coins, issued on August 4, 2026, have a face value of 2 rubles and were minted by the St. Petersburg Mint in 925 sterling silver with a proof finish. Each coin has a limited mintage of 5,000 pieces.
The Red Book: More than three decades portraying endangered wildlife
The Bank of Russia launched the "Red Book" series in 1992 to raise awareness of protected flora and fauna species in the country. Since then, the collection has become one of the longest-running initiatives in Russian numismatics dedicated to nature conservation.
The series title refers to the Red Book of the Russian Federation, the official register of rare, vulnerable, or endangered species within the country. Their inclusion in this register allows for the assessment of their population status, the identification of the main threats, and the establishment of measures to protect them.
With the addition of these three coins, the collection now comprises a total of 82 pieces. The species selected this time represent very different ecosystems: the mountainous forests of the Caucasus, the coastal tundras of the Siberian Arctic, and the sandy and semi-desert regions of southern Russia.
Caucasian wildcat
The Caucasian wildcat (Felis silvestris caucasica) is a rare and endangered subspecies of wildcat. In Russia, it primarily inhabits the mountainous forest belt of the North Caucasus, from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea, although it also occurs in riparian forests and on river islands in the Kuban, Kuma, and Terek rivers.
This feline prefers deciduous forests and riparian zones, although it can also be found in beech, fir, and lower-elevation woodlands. Its survival depends largely on the availability of small rodents and the maintenance of sufficiently large territories where it can feed and reproduce.
Logging, forest alteration, and overhunting led to a significant decline in their populations. Although hunting pressure has decreased, their recovery remains slow. The expansion of human settlements also poses another threat: hybridization with domestic cats, which can progressively dilute the genetic characteristics of the wild population.
CURRENCY
The reverse features a relief image in color of a Caucasian wildcat standing on some rocks. Behind the animal stretches a background of leaves and vegetation, treated with a laser to achieve a matte finish that contrasts with the polished surfaces of the coin.
The Russian inscription «КАВКАЗСКАЯ ЛЕСНАЯ КОШКА», equivalent to «Caucasian wildcat», runs along the lower left sector of the composition.
Eider with glasses
The Fischer's eagle (Somateria fischeri) is a rare waterbird belonging to the duck family (Anatidae). Its name comes from the striking circular markings around its eyes, especially visible in males, which resemble a pair of glasses.
In Russia, it breeds in the Arctic region of eastern Siberia, within a narrow strip of coastal tundra between the Yana and Pegtymel river deltas. Its main breeding area is in the Indigirka River delta in the Sakha Republic. The species usually stays close to the coast and rarely ventures more than 50 kilometers inland.
During the winter, virtually its entire global population is concentrated in specific areas of open water among the Bering Sea ice. This concentration in a single area makes the spectacled eider a particularly vulnerable species: a serious disruption of ice conditions or an oil spill could simultaneously affect a very large portion of its population.
Climate change is also altering the ecological balance of the tundra and increasing predator pressure on nests. This is compounded by poaching during migrations along the Chukchi Sea coast.
CURRENCY
The reverse shows a relief illustration in color of a male spectacled eider perched on the ground. The bird is notable for its pale head, distinctive markings around its eyes, and the contrast with its dark body plumage.
The scene is completed with a representation of the water's surface, created using laser treatment to give it a matte appearance. In the upper left corner is the inscription "ОЧКОВАЯ ГАГА," the Russian name for the spectacled eider.
Toad-headed agama
The toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus mystaceus) is a lizard of the Agamidae family adapted to the sandy landscapes of desert and semi-desert regions. In Russia, it lives in isolated populations located in southern Astrakhan, eastern Kalmykia, and eastern North Caucasus.
Their characteristic habitat is the mobile dunes or barchans, covered only by shrubs and scattered grasses. This specialization means that any transformation of the terrain can quickly affect the species.
The stabilization of the sand dunes through vegetation encroachment, excavation, quarrying, construction, and the economic exploitation of the land is progressively fragmenting their distribution area. Increased rainfall also contributes to dune stabilization and transforms the diverse desert landscapes into more uniform sandy steppes.
Some small populations can reach high densities in the remnants of dunes that still retain suitable conditions. However, their isolation and the small size of these enclaves make them extremely vulnerable to possible local disappearance.
CURRENCY
The third coin features a relief image of the toad-headed agama on a sandy background. The background reproduces the undulations of the sand using a matte laser treatment, evoking the shifting dune environment on which this species depends.
The inscription "УШАСТАЯ КРУГЛОГОЛОВКА", located around the upper right edge, contains its name in Russian. This name also refers to the characteristic skin folds located on the sides of the head, which the reptile can deploy when it feels threatened.
COMMON FRONT
All three coins share the same obverse. In the center appears the national coat of arms of the Russian Federation, depicted in relief. Above it, following the upper edge, is the semicircular inscription "РОССИЙСКАЯ ФЕДЕРАЦИЯ", flanked on both sides by pairs of lozenges.
Below the shield are the chemical symbol for silver and its fineness on the left, while on the right are the fine metal content and the mint mark of the St. Petersburg Mint. At the bottom, arranged in three lines, are the legends "БАНК РОССИИ", the face value "2 RUBLYA", and the year of issue "2026 г."
Common features
Series Red Book
Year 2026
Face value 2 rubles
Metal 925 Silver
Weight 17 g
Pure silver 15.55 g
Diameter 33 mm
Thickness 2.40 mm
Quality Proof
Print run 5,000 coins
Singing Fluted
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