On January 31, a souvenir sheet dedicated to the 300th Anniversary of the Saint Petersburg Mint was put into postal circulation

The St. Petersburg Mint (SPMD), a branch of Joint-Stock Company Goznak, is one of the largest mints in the world. The SPMD is engaged in minting coins, including commemorative and investment coins made of precious metals, as well as in producing orders, medals, badges of merit and other products.

The Mint was founded by Peter the Great in 1724. Starting from the mid-18th century, it became the chief mint in Russia, and in certain periods, it was the only one. The Mint stamped copper, silver and gold coins. In the 19th century, for the first time in the world practice, it arranged mass production of platinum coins, which lasted for 17 years. In addition to coins, the Mint produced award and commemorative medals. As early as in the 18th century, the Mint became the center of the Russian school of producing medals and continues to be such as this to the present day.

In 1921, the Mint began to issue first Soviet coins. The production of state metal insignia was concentrated here; the Mint introduced technologies of mass production of orders, digestion of colored organic enamels, etc. In August of 1941, soon after the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, the Mint became part of Goznak. In the same years, the major part of the Mint's equipment was removed to the town of Krasnokamsk. In 1946, the production returned to Leningrad.

In the post-war years, the Mint produced exchange and commemorative coins, orders, medals and badges. An important stage in the development of the Mint was the production of 45 types of commemorative coins dedicated to the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. The coins were minted from cupronickel, silver, gold and platinum of the "proof" quality. The traditions of minting commemorative coins are still preserved at the St. Petersburg Mint.

Currently, the St. Petersburg Mint continues its operation in the very center of St. Petersburg in the Peter and Paul Fortress. The Mint produces commemorative coins made of precious metals, state awards, and fulfil other important orders.

The postage stamp provides an image of the commemorative stamp produced for the 175th Anniversary of the Saint Petersburg Mint; the margins of the souvenir sheet feature the building of the enterprise; an ancient engraving, which shows the process of minting coins; a photo of the working process; coins, medals and orders produced at the St. Petersburg Mint.

In addition to the issue of the souvenir sheet, JSC Marka produced First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as an illustrated cover with the souvenir sheet, a label and a First Day Cover with a cancel for St. Petersburg inside.


Artist: A. Staroverova.
Design: M. Bodrova.
Face value: 300 rubles.
Souvenir sheet size: 125×94 mm; stamp size in the souvenir sheet (diam): 33 mm.
Quantity: 18 thousand souvenir sheets.

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