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This commemorative coin conveys the idea of the issue through symbols, relief and an expressive composition that is a pleasure to examine. The subject and design details underscore the theme: dedicated to Maik Yohansen — poet, prose writer, translator, linguist, screenwriter and critic, one of the bright figures of the Executed Renaissance, a generation that became a symbol of Ukraine’s powerful cultural breakthrough and was ruthlessly destroyed by the totalitarian Soviet regime.
Obverse
The obverse is built as a coherent stage design, where the theme’s symbols are combined with expressive typography. It bears the inscription common to the series — SLOVO ("Word"), the name of the legendary Kharkiv building where ideas that changed Ukrainian culture were born, and which also witnessed the tragic fate of its residents. In the texture of the letters, a sprout of winter wheat is visible — an image of the young generation of artists whose lives and work were cynically broken by the totalitarian authorities. The tragedy of the era is underscored by the shot-through letter "O," from which blood trickles, recalling a painful wound in Ukraine’s history and the unrealized dreams of talented artists. Careful relief and balanced fields lend the piece collector-grade expressiveness.
Reverse
The reverse reveals the main image of the issue in expressive relief and a layered composition. It depicts a stylized portrait of the writer, arranged as on the title page of a book from which a page bearing his name is being torn out; beneath it are the artist’s years of life. This composition symbolizes the period of the 1930s, when attempts were made to erase the memory of outstanding Ukrainians: writers, playwrights, musicians and artists. Careful relief and balanced fields lend the piece collector-grade expressiveness. In the texture of the field, relief transitions are visible: from fine strokes to deeper plateaus that beautifully catch the light as the coin is turned.
Historical context
The coin’s subject is tied to an event or image important to Ukrainian memory. Maik Yohansen was a co-founder of the literary associations "Hart" and "VAPLITE," a co-editor of the "Literary Fair," the author of the novel "The Journey of the Learned Doctor Leonardo…" and the screenplay for the film "Zvenyhora"; in 1937 he was repressed and executed, and his name was banned for decades. Such issues become little "time capsules": they preserve the emotion of the moment, a cultural marker and recognizable symbolism for future generations. A fitting gift and a warm accent for any collection. It fits a collection well and looks festive in a case.