2 Hryvni Mykolaiv Zoo

Issued as part of Ukraine's ongoing commemorative program celebrating regional institutions, this coin marks the centenary of the Mykolaiv Zoo, founded in 1901 and one of the oldest zoological gardens in the former Soviet space. The Mykolaiv Zoo sits on the Southern Bug river and built much of its early collection through expeditions into the steppe and Black Sea coastal regions — a genuinely regional character that distinguishes it from the imperial menageries of Kyiv or Odessa.

The nickel brass alloy used here was standard for Ukrainian bimetallic and commemorative issues of this period, though the 12.8g weight places it at the heavier end of the 2 hryvni format.