Description

The 1000th Anniversary of the Christianization of Russia was an occasion marked by events held in the USSR from May – June 1988, to celebrate the introduction of Christianity to Russia by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich in 988. Originally, the celebrations were planned for the church only. However, the anniversary became a statewide event. That this was allowed to occur marked a shift in Soviet policy concerning the church. The General Assembly of UNESCO was called to note: “1000 years of the establishment of Christianity in Russia is the biggest event in European and world history and culture.”  The coin was issued to commemorate the occasion and one of the few times a Palladium legal tender coin was issued in Russia.

OBVERSE
National arms divide CCCP with value below
Lettering: СССР PD 999 31,1 ЛМД 25 РУБЛЕЙ 1988

REVERSE
Monument
Lettering: 1000-ЛЕТИЕ КРЕЩЕНИЯ РУСИ ∙ ПАМЯТНИК КНЯЗЮ ВЛАДИМИРУ СВЯТОСЛАВИЧУ ∙