Timed to 250th anniversary of Bolshoi Theatre (26.03.2026)

The Bolshoi Theatre was originally established as a private theatre. On 28 March 1776, Empress Catherine II granted Prince Pyotr Urusov the privilege ‘to be the owner of all theatrical performances in Moscow’, and this day is considered to be the date of the foundation of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Today, the Bolshoi Theatre is the world-known centre of opera and ballet arts. It is the venue where Russian national opera was created, and the music by great composers Mikhail Glinka, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, and Sergei Rachmaninoff was performed. The Bolshoi Theatre is where Marius Petipa choreographed the magnificent Don Quixote, while the ballets Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker have become hallmarks of Russian ballet.

On 27 March 2026, the Bank of Russia issues commemorative coins ‘The 250^th Anniversary of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia’ of the Historical Events series timed to the anniversary of the theatre:

– a 25-ruble silver coin (Catalogue No. 5115-0169), and

– a 100-ruble gold coin (Catalogue No. 5217-0051).

The 25-ruble silver coin (fine metal content 155.5 g, fineness 925/1,100) has a round shape and is 60.0 mm in diameter. The 100-ruble gold commemorative coin (fine metal content 15.55 g, fineness 999/1,000) has a round shape and is 30.0 mm in diameter.

The obverse and the reverse of the coins have a relief rim around the circumference.

The obverse of the coins features a relief image of the National Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation and the inscriptions ‘?????????? ?????????’ (RUSSIAN FEDERATION) and ‘???? ??????’ (BANK OF RUSSIA), the denomination of the coin ‘25 ??????’ (25 RUBLES) or ‘100 ??????’ (100 RUBLES), the year of issue ‘2026 ?.’ (2026), the chemical symbol of the metal according to Mendeleev’s Periodic Table of Elements, fineness, the Saint Petersburg Mint trademark, and fine metal content.

The reverse of:

– the 25-ruble coin features a relief image of a dancing ballet couple against the background of the images of the building of the Bolshoi Theatre and spotlights, laser treated for matte finishing, and the inscription ‘??????? ?????’ (BOLSHOI THEATRE) around the lower circumference.

The edge of the coin is corrugated.

The coin is minted in proof quality.

The mintage of the coin is 1.5 thousand pcs;

– the 100-ruble coin features a relief image of a dancing ballerina against the background of the images of the building of the Bolshoi Theatre and spotlights, laser treated for matte finishing, and the inscription ‘??????? ?????’ (BOLSHOI THEATRE) around the lower circumference.

The edge of the coin is corrugated.

The coin is minted in proof quality.

The mintage of the coin is 0.5 thousand pcs.

The new coins are legal tender of the Russian Federation and are mandatory for acceptance for all kinds of payments without any restrictions at their face value.