Arktika coins pair 3-ruble silver with 200-ruble gold
The Bank of Russia will issue silver and gold commemorative coins honoring nuclear icebreaker Arktika on November 10, 2026. The 3-ruble and 200-ruble coins join the Russia's Nuclear Icebreaker Fleet series.
Two metals, limited mintages
The silver coin (catalogue 5111-0542) contains 31.1 g of fine metal, has fineness of 925/1,000 and measures 39.0 mm in diameter; mintage is 3,000. The gold coin (catalogue 5219-0036) contains 31.1 g of fine metal, has fineness of 999/1,000 and measures 33.0 mm; mintage is 500. Both are round, proof-quality coins with corrugated edges and relief rims on both faces.
Their obverses show Russia's national coat of arms, the inscriptions Russian Federation and Bank of Russia, the denomination of 3 or 200 rubles and the issue year 2026.
They also carry the metal's chemical symbol according to Mendeleev's Periodic Table of Elements, fineness, fine metal content and the Saint Petersburg Mint trademark.
Arctic service in relief
The Bank of Russia describes Arktika as the world's most powerful nuclear icebreaker of its class, able to break ice up to three metres thick.
Launched in June 2016, it began its maiden voyage in November 2020 and escorts vessels along the Northern Sea Route for year-round Arctic shipping.
The silver reverse uses a colored relief image of Arktika against light-interference ice; the gold reverse depicts it in relief in the ice.
Both carry the relief inscription Nuclear Icebreaker Fleet, at the top on silver and bottom on gold.
Face value governs payments
The commemorative format does not alter the coins' legal-tender status in the Russian Federation.
Acceptance is mandatory for all payments without restrictions at their face value.
The payment obligation therefore applies at 3 rubles for silver and 200 rubles for gold.