Lunokhod-1 (cupronickel)

The 50 tenge coin "Lunokhod-1" is part of the space-themed collector issues of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The "Lunokhod-1" coin is dedicated to the world's first planetary rover that operated on another celestial body. The "Luna-17" automatic station launched from Baikonur on November 10, 1970, and on November 17 delivered the self-propelled vehicle to the lunar surface in the area of the Sea of Rains. "Lunokhod-1" weighed about 756 kilograms and was equipped with eight independently rotating wheels, television cameras, a solar panel, and a radioisotope heater that allowed it to survive the lunar night.

The rover was controlled from Earth by a crew of operators who steered it using television images. It operated significantly longer than its planned lifespan — about 11 lunar days, until September 1971 — traveled more than ten kilometers, transmitted hundreds of panoramas and tens of thousands of images of the lunar surface to Earth, as well as data on the chemical composition of the soil. The results helped scientists better understand the structure of the Moon and refine remote control technologies. The 2010 issue marks the 40th anniversary of this expedition, which began at the Kazakhstan spaceport.

Obverse

The official side of the coin bears the state designations. Inscriptions are arranged along the circumference: at the top, "ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫ" in the Kazakh language, and at the bottom, "REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN" in English. To the right of the center, the face value is indicated: the numeral "50" and below it the word "ТЕҢГЕ" — fifty tenge. The central field continues the space theme: a vertical line divides it into two parts, with the starry sky featuring orbits and stars shown on one side, and a full-length silhouette of a person against the background of a spiral galaxy on the other, while small dots are scattered in the upper part. This composition is uniform for all coins in the series, making it immediately possible to recognize the issue and distinguish it from standard circulation coins.

The uniformity of the official side's design emphasizes that these are parts of a common thematic project: the design on the artistic side changes, while the state portion remains recognizable. The strict placement of the inscriptions along the arc and the clear relief of the numerals ensure the legibility 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. This side serves simultaneously as the coin's document and a part of its design, which is why it is just as important in a collection as the artistic side.

Reverse

On the artistic side, the center depicts "Lunokhod-1" itself on the lunar surface: the eight wheels, the body with the open solar panel lid, and the antennas are clearly distinguishable. In the upper right part, the lunar disk with craters is rendered, and dots representing stars are scattered between the vehicle and the Moon.

Inscriptions are placed along the circumference: "ЛУНОХОД-1" at the top and "LUNOKHOD-1" at the bottom, with the dates "1970-2010" beneath the vehicle itself. Twelve five-star emblems are arranged along the outer rim, giving the composition a ceremonial appearance. The dark oxidized surface effectively conveys the lunar landscape, and the polished relief of the vehicle stands out against it just as a metal body would stand out against real soil.