Soyuz–Apollo (tantalum)

The 500 tenge silver 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 mission between the USSR and the USA. In July 1975, the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz-19 and the American 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 occurred on July 17, and the handshake between Leonov and Stafford in the docking module became a symbol of détente between the two superpowers. Their joint work required the creation of a special docking unit that allowed the connection of spacecraft with different atmospheres, along with a separate transfer compartment. 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 number "500" and beneath it the word "ТЕҢГЕ" – five hundred tenge. Below the face value, in small print, are the designations of the metals and the weight of each – 925 fineness silver and tantalum – thus marking the bimetallic composition of the coin. Near the technical data is the trademark of the Kazakhstan Mint. The central field continues the space theme: a vertical line divides it into two parts; on one side, a starry sky with orbits and stars is depicted, while on the other is a full-length silhouette of a person against the backdrop of a spiral galaxy, with small dots scattered across the upper part. This composition is uniform for all coins in the series, making it easy to identify the issue and distinguish it from standard circulation coins.

The unity of design on the official side emphasizes that we are looking at parts of a common thematic project: the drawing on the artistic side changes, while the state portion remains recognizable. The strict arrangement of inscriptions along the arc and the clear relief of the digits 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 as important in a collection as the artistic side.

Reverse

The artistic side depicts two docked spacecraft, Soyuz and Apollo, connected as a single assembly against the background of space. In the upper background, part of the planet's surface with its characteristic terrain is visible, and the field around the spacecraft is sprinkled with dots simulating stars. In the upper center is the pentagonal emblem of the program with the inscription "СОЮЗ АПОЛЛОН" and the Roman 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 bright matte ring frames a dark oxidized center featuring a space motif. This solution emphasizes the contrast between the light of the Earth and the blackness of space.