| The Bank of Russia has started many programs | | | | starting out. It is easy to appreciate the beauty |
| that involve using coins as a means of sharing | | | | of these coins even if one knows nothing about |
| some of Russian history with people all around the | | | | the people they are dedicated to or has little |
| world. One of the coin programs they created | | | | knowledge about coin collecting. The imagery |
| was the "Outstanding Personalities of Russia" coin | | | | found on these coins alone is breathtaking. |
| collection. These coins are remarkable in their | | | | Each coin has the same backing which is the |
| appearance as well as the people they have | | | | emblem of the Bank of Russia. The fronts of |
| chosen to dedicate these commemorative coins | | | | these coins have their own personal touch with |
| to. | | | | engravings that show images of the men and |
| The coins are used to celebrate centennial | | | | examples of their work. Klodt is posed with one |
| anniversaries of the people they embrace. So far | | | | of the memorials he created and Sholokhov is |
| the collection has seen the faces of Michail | | | | placed with a scene from one of his novels. The |
| Alexsandrovich Sholokhov and Peter Karlovich | | | | silver on the black background really makes the |
| Klodt. The coins celebrated the anniversaries of | | | | images stand out showing the careful detail put |
| the birth of these men. M.A. Sholokhov had a coin | | | | into the design of these coins. |
| dedicated to him for the 100th anniversary of his | | | | "Outstanding Personalities of Russia" coins are not |
| birth, and P.K. Klodt's coin was in celebration of the | | | | easy to find in the United States. The best way |
| 200th anniversary of his birth. | | | | to acquire one of these beautiful coins for a |
| These men were fantastic additions to Russia's | | | | collection is to find another collector who has one |
| art community with Klodt's sculpting and | | | | that they are willing to sell. Since many people are |
| Sholokhov's literary talents. Either of these coins | | | | unaware of the value of these coins, they might |
| would enhance anyone's coin collecting album | | | | be found in a pawn shop or yard sale but those |
| whether they're a seasoned collector or just | | | | chances are slim. |