Ñollectible silver coin Series: Russia that we lost Name: Hanko Peninsula Origin: Hong Kong Issuer: Mega Power Hong Kong Group Limited Minted by: Mega Power Hong Kong Group Limited Designer: Iren Ter Sarkisyan Weight: 23 gr Standard: Ag 999 Diameter: 45 mm Face value: 50 cents Mintage: 400 Year: 2013 Obverse Hanko (Fin. Hankoniemi, Rus Gangut) is a peninsula at the northern coast of the Finish Bay of the Baltic Sea at the South-West of Finland which was formerly a part of the Russian Empire. This is the most southern part of the mainland Finland. At the peninsula both Russian and Swedish fortresses were built. Since XVIII century Russia assaulted Swedish fortresses more than once and in 1812 Russia conquered the peninsula once and for all. In March. 1940, Russia instituted control over the peninsula one more time to establish a naval base. In the beginning of 1941 in course of actions during WWII, the USSR had to abandon its fortifications. To immortalize the memory of heroic defenders of the fortress, a stone monument, designed by architects V. Kamenskiy and A. Leiman was mounted in Leningrad. The place for the monument was chosen near St. Panteleimon church, the latter had been raised in honor of the victory in the battle of Gangut (Hanko) in XVIII century. Placing the monument to the defenders of Hanko near the church emphasizes the continuity of the generations. Reverse “Virsaitis”, a former flagship of the navy of the first republic of Latvia (1918-1939). In 1939 she joined the Baltic Fleet of the USSR. The ship was lost defending Hanko peninsula on December 2, 1941.

new