Soyuz–Apollo (cupronickel)

The 50 tenge coin "Soyuz–Apollo" is part of the space-themed collector issues of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The "Soyuz–Apollo" coin commemorates the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), the first joint crewed space program between the USSR and the USA. In July 1975, the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz-19 and the American spacecraft Apollo docked in low Earth orbit. The launch of the Soyuz from Baikonur took place on July 15, 1975, with a crew consisting of Alexei Leonov and Valeri Kubasov. The American spacecraft launched on the same day from Cape Canaveral, carrying Thomas Stafford, Vance Brand, and Donald Slayton.

The docking took place on July 17, and the handshake between Leonov and Stafford in the docking module became a symbol of detente between the two superpowers. Joint operations required the creation of a special docking mechanism that allowed the connection of spacecraft with different atmospheres, as well as a separate docking module. The crews conducted joint experiments, exchanged flags and souvenirs, and shared a meal. The spacecraft undocked on July 19, and Soyuz-19 landed on July 21, 1975. The 2009 coin is dedicated to this flight, which began on Kazakh soil.

Obverse

The official side of the coin bears the state designations. Inscriptions are arranged along the circumference: "ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫ" in Kazakh at the top, and "REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN" in English at the bottom. To the right of the center is the face value: 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 one side showing a starry sky with orbits and stars, and the other side showing a full-length silhouette of a person against the background of a spiral galaxy, with small dots scattered in the upper part. This composition is uniform for all coins in the series, making it easy to recognize the issue and distinguish it from standard circulation coins.

The uniformity of the design on the official side 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 arrangement of inscriptions along an arc and the clear relief of the numerals ensure the legibility of the face value, while the mint mark indicates the place of striking. The contrast between the smooth field and the relief elements preserves the expressiveness of the composition under any lighting. This side serves simultaneously as a document of the coin and as part of its design, which is why it is just as important in a collection as the artistic side.

Reverse

The artistic side depicts two docked spacecraft, Soyuz and Apollo, joined together as a single unit against the background of space. In the background at the top, a portion of the planet's surface with its characteristic relief is visible, and the field around the spacecraft is sprinkled with dots simulating stars. In the upper central part is the pentagonal mission emblem with the inscription "СОЮЗ АПОЛЛОН" and the Roman numeral date "VII 1975".

The names are arranged along the circumference in two languages: "СОЮЗ - АПОЛЛОН" and "SOYUZ - APOLLO", and the year of issue "2009" is placed at the bottom. The coin features a two-tone design: a light matte ring frames a dark oxidized center featuring the space theme. This solution emphasizes the contrast between the light of the Earth and the blackness of space.