On October 16, a souvenir sheet dedicated to the gold of the Huns was put into postal circulation in the Archaeological Heritage of Russia series

The archaeological heritage of Russia belongs to all the peoples of the Russian Federation who have ever inhabited its territory. It is an independent evidence of the formation and distribution of various ancient cultures that make up the rich fund of traditions of the past of our country.

In 2010, an ancient treasure was found in the village of Volnikovka in the Kursk Region. Experts determined that the treasure was an ancient burial site where a noble Hun warrior and his horse were buried. About 300 items dating back to the 5th century AD were discovered, including elements and fragments of ceremonial men's sword slings with a sword and a dagger, a ceremonial belt, and a horse harness. The very fact of availability of a Hun burial site in the Kursk Region has come as a big surprise to experts.

The Huns were a nomadic people who invaded Eastern Europe from Asia in the 370s. Their presumed place of origin was Central Asia. In the 3rd–2nd centuries BC, they settled in Mongolia and the southern Baikal region.

During excavations of Hunnic monuments, many unique decorations were discovered, made in red and yellow colors. The surface of the gold items was divided into cells containing stones - almandines or carnelians - or reddish glass inserts. An important element in such items was granulation - an ornament made of tiny gold balls soldered to the surface of the item. This artistic style became known as the Gunnish polychrome style. It was used to decorate sword and dagger handles, scabbards, buckles, brooches, collars, diadems, earrings, and harness details. These treasures are now reposited in the Kursk State Museum of Archaeology.

The postage stamps provide images of a sword belt buckle, a sword bar and a pommel, a bridle strap spacer, and a bell. The margins of the souvenir sheet feature other exhibits from the Kursk State Museum of Archaeology, as well as images illustrating the life of the Huns.

In addition to the issue of the souvenir sheet, JSC Marka produced First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, Kursk and St. Petersburg, as well as an illustrated cover for the second emission type of the souvenir sheet with partial varnish and embossing.


Design Artist: A. Moskovets.
Face value: 70 rubles.
Stamp size in the souvenir sheet: 37×37 mm; souvenir sheet size: 131×75 mm.
Quantity: 17 thousand souvenir sheets (the 1-st emission type); 3.45 thousand souvenir sheets (the 2-nd emission type*)
* To be on sale as part of an illustrated cover.

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