The coin commemorates courage and heroism, unconquerability and love of freedom of people from all generations defending the national interests; it is dedicated to the Day of Defender of Ukraine. By tradition, this holiday is celebrated on 14 October, the day of the Protection of Holy Virgin, which also got its other name - Cossacks` Protection of Holy Virgin. The holiday is associated with such concepts as military honor, courage, bravery and knighthood. The image of Virgin Mary holding a long white veil has become a kind of talisman of Ukraine, a symbol of its eternal striving for harmony and peace.

Defender of Ukraine Day (Ukrainian: День захисника України) is a state holiday celebrated in Ukraine celebrated annually on October 14 (this is thus a day off in Ukraine). It's first celebration was in 2015. The holiday replaced the former February 23's holiday called Defender of the Fatherland Day, which has its origin in the Soviet Union. (As the Ukrainian SSR Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union from 1920 till Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union on 24 August 1991.) On 14 October 2014, a decree by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko created the new holiday. 14 October is also the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks.

Chairman of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance Volodymyr Viatrovych motivated the choice of the date for October 14 on the Ukrainian historical tradition of honoring the Ukrainian army on the day of the Intercession of the Theotokos.

On October 12, 2015 the National Bank of Ukraine put into circulation 50 000 pieces of 5 hryvnia coins with an inscription "Day of Defender of Ukraine".