Ukraine. Popular Collector Series Continues with Latest Coin Honouring Esteemed Composer

This year’s coins celebrate the centenary birthday anniversary of an outstanding Ukrainian composer who left an indelible mark on the country’s musical heritage. Igor Shamo (1925 – 1982) is best remembered as the composer of the musical score which would become the ‘signature tune’ of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Entitled ‘How can I not love you, my Kiev!’ it became the official anthem of the city in 2014 which was also in homage to Shamo.

Igor Naumovich Shamo was born in Ykraine’s capital city of Kyiv on the 21st February 1925 in into the family of pharmacists. Before the start of the Second World War, Shamo studied at the Lysenko Music School studying composition but later received training in a medical institute in preparation to become a military paramedic. By May 1942, Shamo was transferred to the front where he travelled from Stalingrad and finally to Berlin. After the war, he was able to resume his studies and in 1951, graduated with honours from the Kyiv Conservatory, continuing the study of composition. Shamo was highly regarded by his professors who saw the immense talent of the young musician. At the age of 23, as a third-year student, Shamo became the youngest member of the Union of Composers of Ukraine which remains an unprecedented accomplishment.

It was in 1962 when Shamo, in collaboration with colleague and poet Dimitry Lutsenko that he wrote what would become one of his most popular songs. Originally entitled ‘My Kyiv’, it almost immediately became the unofficial anthem of the capital when it was first sung by baritone pop singer Yuri Gulyayev. Shamo and Lutsenko recalled in an interview some years later that the idea of ​​creating a song about the capital of Ukraine was born instantly, while walking along the promenade of the Dnieper, the two friends heard an enthusiastic comment "How can you not love this city!" made by one of the young people passing by. Today, a fragment of the melody sounds from the chimes of Maidan Square. Shamo was often described as being truly in love with his hometown which he likely inherited this love from his father, also a native Kyivan. He was continuously interested in the history of Kyiv, and it was said he knew every pebble and every corner which he could talk about for hours. Shamo is the composer of numerous symphonies, chamber works and songs with music reflective of warmth and patriotism. During his most prolific years, Shamo composed over three hundred songs, he wrote the first choral opera in Ukraine entitled ‘Yatranski igri, he also wrote full symphonies and music for more than forty films.

The virtuoso lived not only for music but also showed great talent in drawing, sculpting carving and even textile design. Igor Shamo died on the 17th of August 1982 at the age of 57 and was survived by his wife Lyudmila and son Yuriy. He was buried in the Baïkove cemetery in Kyiv and in more recently, a memorial plaque to the Ukrainian composer was added to the exterior of the home where he and his family lived in Kostolna Street, Kyiv.

The collector coins are produced by the Mint of Ukraine at their facilities in Kyiv and on behalf of the National Bank. Designed by artisans Volodymyr Taran, Oleksandr Kharuk and Serhii Kharuk, the obverse side features a replicated image of Shamo which is based on a publicity photo from the 1970’s of the composer in the process of creating a new musical masterpiece. Below the portrait is a sheet of music symbolising the composer’s musical heritage. To the left of the portrait is the text shown in a vertical direction ІГОР ШАМО (Igor Shamo) and the years of his birth and death 1925 – 1982. Along the top rim and to the left of Shamo, are fragments of chestnut tree leaves, a symbolic hallmark of the capital of Kyiv. The reverse side highlights a portion of Kyiv’s skyline with a stylised composition of picturesque landmarks, iconic buildings and monuments of Kyiv, framed by chestnut tree leaves. Above the skyline is the text УКРАЇНА (Ukraine) with the dots above the Ukrainian letter Ї made to look like hearts, emphasising the composer’s affection for Kyiv. The national crest or coat of arms is placed above. Beneath the primary design against a smooth background, is a music sheet with one of Shamo’s musical compositions along with the coin’s denomination of 2 ₴. Below the face value is the year of issue, 2025. The mint mark of the Ukrainian Minting Works is placed just to the lower right among the chestnut leaves.

Available from the 21^st February, each coin is encapsulated and presented in a card-type presentation for display. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the National Bank of Ukraine.