New 2-ruble silver coin honors sculptor Stepan Erzya
The Bank of Russia will issue a 2-ruble silver commemorative coin on September 8, 2026, marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of sculptor Stepan Erzya. The proof-quality coin belongs to the Outstanding Personalities of Russia series.
Silver proof with wood-ring relief
The 2-ruble commemorative piece contains 15.55 grams of fine silver with a 925/1,000 fineness and a diameter of 33.0 millimeters.
Minted in proof quality at the Moscow Mint with a corrugated edge, the coin is issued in a limited run of 3,000 pieces under catalogue number 5110-0200. The obverse features the National Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation, standard official inscriptions, the 2026 minting year, and the chemical symbol of silver.
The reverse displays a textured relief field designed as a tree cross-section, incorporating an outline self-portrait of Erzya, his facsimile signature, and the dates 1876 and 1959.
The coin serves as legal tender across Russia at face value.
From peasant roots to the Argentine studio
Born Stepan Nefedov in 1876 to an Erzya peasant family within the Mordvin ethnic group, the sculptor adopted his pseudonym to honor his heritage.
After acclaimed exhibitions in Italy and France where critics nicknamed him the “Russian Rodin,” he spent more than two decades in Argentina sculpting with rare South American hardwoods.
He returned to his homeland in 1951, donating a substantial collection of his works to Russia.
The release continues the central bank's Outstanding Personalities series.
Collector prestige over monetary utility
The release fulfills a purely cultural purpose rather than any functional monetary role.
A mintage of just 3,000 pieces guarantees immediate absorption into collector portfolios rather than active circulation.
Legal tender status is purely symbolic given precious metal values far surpassing nominal face value.
Source: Master of Wood Sculpture (07.09.2026)
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