The Ukrainian Archangel is the official bullion coin for the nation of Ukraine and is issued by the National Bank of Ukraine. It is issued in silver as a one-ounce coin and in gold as a one-tenth ounce, one-quarter ounce, one-half ounce, and one-ounce coin. It has been produced since 2011, making it one of the newer bullion coins available globally.
Design of the Ukrainian Archangel Michael Coins
The Archangel was designed by Oleksandr Kharuk, Serhii Kharuk, and Volodymyr Taran and engraved by Sviatoslav Ivanenko and Roman Chaikovskyi.
The obverse of the Archangel Michael depicts the Ukrainian coat of arms inside an octagon with an inscription reading National Bank of Ukraine in Ukrainian. The obverse also features a small emblem of the bank, the denomination and year of issue, as well as the metal, its fineness, and weight below the coat of arms.
The reverse of the Ukrainian Archangel Michael coin features the Taxiarch (brigadier) Archangel Michael. He is shown ready for battle, wearing full Roman armor, and wielding a drawn sword. Around the rim of the reverse is an inscription in Ukrainian that translates to FOR US AND THE SOULS OF RIGHTEOUS MEN and ACHISTRATEGOS MICHAEL’S STRENGTH.
Face Value of the Ukrainian Archangel
The Ukrainian currency has been the hryvnia since 1996. The word is considered to come from the Slavic griva, which roughly means mane. Since it is related to the Serbian and Bulgarian word grivna, or bracelet, it possibly indicated something silver or gold to be worn around the neck. The currency symbol used for the Hryvnia is the cursive letter He (г), which is used with a double horizontal stroke to symbolize stability like the yen and Chinese yuan, Euro, and Indian Rupee.
| Metal | Weight in Troy Ounces | Face Value |
| Silver | 1 Ounce | 1 Hryvnia |
| Gold | 1/10 Ounce | 2 Hryvnia |
| Gold | ¼ Ounce | 5 Hryvnia |
| Gold | ½ Ounce | 10 Hryvnia |
| Gold | 1 Ounce | 20 Hryvnia |
Investing in the Ukrainian Archangel
While the silver and gold Ukrainian Archangel Michael coins may be .9999 fine, investors are often attracted to the low mintage of these coins. The Ukrainian bullion coin is issued in even lower mintages than the Mexican Libertad!
Ukrainian Archangel Mintages
| Year | Silver | Gold | Gold | Gold | Gold |
| 1 Ounce | 1/10 Ounce | ¼ Ounce | ½ Ounce | 1 Ounce | |
| 2011 | 10,000 | 3,000 | 1,500 | ||
| 2012 | 20,000 | 8,000 | 3,500 | 3,700 | 5,900 |
| 2013 | 24,500 | 6,600 | 5,300 | 4,500 | 4,000 |
| 2014 | 24,705 | 5,000 | 3,800 | 3,800 | 6,400 |
| 2015 | 26,990 | 7,500 | 7,500 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| 2016 | 20,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| 2017 | 30,000 | ||||
| 2018 | 40,000 | 1,500 | |||
| 2019 | 25,000 | ||||
| 2020 | 31,000 | ||||
| 2021 | 20,000 | 2,500 | |||
| 2022 | 10,000 |
Disruptions Caused by the Russian Conflict
The Russian conflict in Ukraine has had an impact on the Ukrainian Archangel Michael bullion coins, making them more difficult to obtain.
Saint Michael and Ukraine
Saint Michael the Archangel is the patron saint of the city of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Saint Michael came to Kyiv from Byzantium. He was originally the patron saint of princes and soldiers from Kyiv, but over time, he has come to represent the city.
In the 16th century, Saint Michael was first found on the Kyiv coat of arms. Ever since, he has held a symbolic representation of the Ukrainian national identity, as you may surmise from exploring the city of Kyiv.
There is a gold and bronze statue of the archangel with a sword and shield in the city’s center above the Liadsky Gate in Independence Square.
Saint Michael prominently stands atop a hill next to the Dnieper River at the Golden Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel. The Italian Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant’Angelo and Golden Monastery in Kyiv are linked in intercessory prayer for the people of Kyiv and all earthly nations.
