St Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia

Saint Nicholas (Greek: Ἅγιος Νικόλαος, Hagios Nikólaos; Latin: Sanctus Nicolaus) (15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra (Demre, part of modern-day Turkey) in Lycia. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker (Νικόλαος ὁ Θαυματουργός, Nikolaos ho Thaumatourgos). He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus, whose modern name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas, itself from a series of elisions and corruptions of the transliteration of "Saint Nikolaos". His reputation evolved among the faithful, as was common for early Christian saints. In 1087, part of the relics (about half of the bones) were furtively translated to Bari, in southeastern Italy; for this reason, he is also known as Nikolaos of Bari. The remaining bones were taken to Venice in 1100. His feast day is the 6th of December.

The historical Saint Nicholas is commemorated and revered among Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christians. In addition, some Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches have been named in honor of Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, pawnbrokers and students in various cities and countries around Europe. He was also a patron of the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine emperors, who protected his relics in Bari.

St Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia
Obverse: 
At the top — the image of the State Coat of Arms of the Republic of Belarus (in the center); in the center of the coin — gold-plated (on the silver coin) images showing scenes from the life of St Nicholas the Wonderworker (the birth of St Nicholas, the miraculous return of the carpet, the return of the son to parents, the ship’s deliverance from sinking, the salvation of three men from execution, the appearance of the icon of St Nicholas to Prince Dmitry Donskoy, and the transfer of relics to the city of Bari) against the background of the sea and land; at the bottom — the year of issue and the alloy standard; and circumferential inscriptions: at the top — РЭСПУБЛІКА БЕЛАРУСЬ (THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS) and at the bottom — denomination: 500 РУБЛЁЎ and 5000 РУБЛЁЎ (500 RUBLES and 5000 RUBLES).
Reverse: 
At the top — circumferential ornamental pattern and an inscription: СВЯТИТЕЛЬ НИКОЛАЙ МИР ЛИКИЙСКИХ ЧУДОТВОРЕЦ (ST NICHOLAS OF MYRA IN LYCIA THE WONDERWORKER); and in the center — the representation of St Nicholas the Wonderworker (the halo above St Nicholas is plated with gold).
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Catalog ID: 
BY267CM2
Value: 
€16000
Mintage: 
77
Quality: 
Face value: 
Material: 
Purity: 
0.9999
Weight: 
500g
Diameter: 
80.25mm
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