First Artificial Earth Satellite (tantalum)

The 500 tenge silver coin First Artificial Earth Satellite (tantalum) is part of the space-themed collector issues of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The First Satellite coin marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the world's first artificial Earth satellite. The PS-1 spacecraft, "Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1" (Simple Satellite-1), was placed into orbit on October 4, 1957, by an R-7 rocket from the Baikonur launch site. The creation of the rocket and satellite was directed by Chief Designer Sergey Pavlovich Korolev. The satellite was a polished aluminum sphere 58 centimeters in diameter and weighing about 83.6 kilograms with four whip antennas. Inside were a radio transmitter and power sources.

For twenty-one days, the device broadcasted the famous "beep-beep" signals, which could be received by any radio amateur in the world. Orbiting the Earth in approximately 96 minutes, the satellite remained in orbit until January 4, 1958, when it burned up in the dense layers of the atmosphere. This launch opened the space age of mankind: it became a political and scientific event of global scale, started the competition of space powers and led to the creation of national space programs. For Kazakhstan, the date is special because the launch pad from which the rocket left is located on its territory, and the 2007 numismatic issue is dedicated to the 50th anniversary.

Obverse

The official side of the coin bears the state designations. Along the circumference are inscriptions: at the top "ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫ" in Kazakh, at the bottom "REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN" in English. To the right of the center is the face value: the number "500" and below it the word "ТЕҢГЕ" — five hundred tenge. Below the face value in small print are the designations of the metals and the mass of each — silver of 925 fineness and tantalum, thus marking the bimetallic composition of the coin on it. Next to the technical data, the trademark of the Kazakhstan Mint is applied. The central field continues the space theme: a vertical line divides it into two parts, on one side the starry sky with orbits and stars is shown, on the other — a full-length silhouette of a person against the background of a spiral galaxy, and small dots are scattered in the upper part. This composition is uniform for all coins of the series, which allows one to immediately recognize the issue and distinguish it from ordinary circulation coins.

The unity of the design of the official side emphasizes that we have before us parts of a common thematic project: the drawing on the artistic side changes, while the state part remains recognizable. The strict arrangement of inscriptions along the arc and the clear relief of the numbers ensure the readability of the face value, and the mint mark indicates the place of minting. The contrast between the smooth field and the relief elements preserves the expressiveness of the composition under any lighting. Such a side serves simultaneously as a document of the coin and as part of its design, so in a collection it is just as important as the artistic one.

Reverse

The artistic side is dedicated to the satellite itself. In the center of the coin, a sphere with four long antennas directed backwards in the direction of travel is shown — this is exactly what PS-1 looked like in orbit and in famous photographs. On the left is a fragment of the globe with relief outlines of the continents, over which the spacecraft made its revolutions. The rest of the field is occupied by a starry sky of small dots.

Along the circumference at the top is the inscription in Kazakh "ТҰҢҒЫШ ЖАСАНДЫ ЖЕР СЕРІГІ" — "First Artificial Earth Satellite", at the bottom — its English version "THE FIRST SPACE SATELLITE OF THE EARTH". Under the image of the satellite are the dates "1957-2007", recording the anniversary. The laconic composition conveys the main thing: a small sphere that changed humanity's perception of itself and of space.