The National Bank of Kazakhstan has put into circulation 50 and 500 tenge coins from "Space" series dedicated to First Cosmonaut. Coins are issued in circulation on March 29th 2011.

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (Russian: Ю́рий Алексе́евич Гага́рин, 9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968), was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut. After being selected for Air Force Group 1, he became the first human to journey into outer space when his Vostok spacecraft launched successfully and completed an orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961. After re-entry, Gagarin ejected from the craft and landed safely by parachute.

After the mission, Gagarin became an international celebrity, and was awarded many medals and honours, including Hero of the Soviet Union. Vostok 1 marked his only spaceflight, but he served as backup to the Soyuz 1 mission, which ended in a fatal crash. Gagarin later became deputy training director of the Cosmonaut Training Centre outside Moscow which was later named after him.

50 tenge CuNi coin.
Face value: 50 tenge;
Diameter – 31 mm, thickness – 2 mm, weight – 11,17 gram;
The lateral surface (drove) is grooved with 10 sectors of corrugation;
Mintage: 50000 pcs.

Obverse of the coin: The composition symbolized the unity of human being with the world and the connection between the past and present; the face value of the coin "50 ТЕҢГЕ"; trade mark of Kazakhstan Mint; two inscriptions "ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫ" and "REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN".

Reverse of the coin: Image U.A. Gagarin, the first cosmonaut, 2011 is 50th anniversary of his space flight, image of orbital spacecraft on near-earth orbit, numbers "1961-2011" meaning the year of first man space flight and the year of coinage, name of the coin in Kazakh «ТҰҢҒЫШ ҒАРЫШКЕР», and in Russian «ПЕРВЫЙ КОСМОНАВТ» divided by signature of U.A. Gagarin. Lateral surface is grooved.

500 tenge silver coin.
Face value: 500 tenge;
Quality: proof, bimetal - silver 0.925 16.7 g. and tantalum 24 g.
Diameter – 38.61 mm, weight – 40,7 gram;
Mintage: 5000 pcs.

Obverse of the coin: The composition symbolized the unity of human being with the world and the connection between the past and present; the face value of the coin "500 ТЕҢГЕ"; trade mark of Kazakhstan Mint; the inscription of "Ag 925  16.7 gr.  Та 24 gr." defining the metal which the coin is made of, its fineness and weight; two inscriptions "ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫ" and "REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN".

Reverse of the coin: Image U.A. Gagarin, the first cosmonaut, 2011 is 50th anniversary of his space flight, image of orbital spacecraft on near-earth orbit, numbers "1961-2011" meaning the year of first man space flight and the year of coinage, name of the coin in Kazakh «ТҰҢҒЫШ ҒАРЫШКЕР», and in Russian «ПЕРВЫЙ КОСМОНАВТ» divided by signature of U.A. Gagarin. Lateral surface is grooved.

Source of information: The National bank of Kazakhstan www.nationalbank.kz