The coins are round. The rim is raised on both sides of the coin. The edge of the coin is corrugated.

Obverse

within the circular geometric ornament – the relief of the State Coat of Arms of the Republic of Belarus; beneath – year of issue; inscriptions along the rim – at the top: "РЭСПУБЛІКА БЕЛАРУСЬ" (REPUBLIC OF BELARUS), at the bottom: "ДВАЦЦАЦЬ РУБЛЁЎ" (TWENTY ROUBLES) on the silver coin and "АДЗІН РУБЕЛЬ" (ONE ROUBLE) on the copper–nickel coin.

Reverse

in the right–hand part – relief effigy of Ignatius Dameika; in the left–hand part – relief effigy of a geological hammer and an inset of a stone similar to dameikit and its chemical formula (on the copper–nickel coin the inset is absent and on its place the relief effigy of mountains is placed); at the bottom in the left–hand part – inscription in four lines "IГНАТ ДАМЕЙКА 1802 1889" (IGNATIUS DAMEIKA 1802–1889); at the bottom in the right–hand part – relief effigy of fragment of mountain chain in Andes, adopted in honor of I. Dameika, and inscription "CORDILLERA DE DOMEYKO".

Ignat (Ignatsi) Domeyko[7] (Ignatius Ippolitovich Domeyko; Belarusian. Ignat Dameika[8], Polish. Ignacy Domeyko, lit. Ignotas Domeika[9], in Chile he was called Ignacio Domeyko Ancuta, Spanish. Ignacio Domeyko Ancuta; July 31, 1802 , Bolshaya Medvedka - January 23, 1889, Santiago de Chile) - geologist, mineralogist, geographer and ethnologist, long-time rector of the University of Chile and member of many scientific societies, one of the most famous students of the University of Vilna and a national hero of Chile. He was born in historical Lithuania (on the territory of modern Belarus), which 7 years before his birth, during the third partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, became part of the Russian Empire. He adopted the cultural and political traditions of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and occupies an important place in the history of science and culture of Poland, Belarus, Lithuania and Chile.

Biography

Born in the Medvyadka estate (Belarus. Myadvyadka, Polish. Niedźwiadka Wielka) of the Novogrudok district of the Minsk province (now Korelichi district, 14 km southwest of the urban village of Mir). His father was the chairman of the Novogrudok zemstvo court. The beloved of the poet Adam Mickiewicz, Marylya Vereshchako, was Ignatsi’s cousin.

Since 1812, together with his older brother Adam Domeyko, he studied at the PR school in Shchuchyn, subordinate to the Vilna University. The brothers' tutor was Onufry Petrashkevich.

After graduating from school in 1816, Ignaci Domeyko entered the department of physics and mathematics at Vilnius University. 14-year-old Domeyko was one of the youngest students at the university. In June 1817 he received the degree of Candidate of Philosophy. He completed his studies in the first half of 1820.

In 1822 he attended lectures by astronomer Piotr Slawinski, in 1823 he listened to lectures by philosopher Józef Gołuchowski and historian Joachim Lelewel. In June 1822 he was awarded the degree of Master of Philosophy.

In 1820, he became the eighth member of the secret student organization of Philomaths, founded in 1817[10], one of the founders of which was Onufry Petrashkevich. He took part in the activities of the philomaths' subsidiaries - the Society of Philadelphians, Radiant and others, and was in charge of the philomaths' library.

In November 1823 he was arrested. Together with most of the arrested Philomaths, he was imprisoned in the Basilian monastery of the Holy Trinity.

“A general nominal list of those who belonged to the secret society of philarets that existed in Vilna, between students of Vilna University, equally specified and unfound, was made by the Investigative Commission on May 13, 1824” reports the following about him:

“Ignatius Domeyko, candidate of philosophy, 21 years old, Grodno province, Novogrodsky district, where he has an estate called Nedzvyadki; Secretary of the Pink Union. He was also in the society of philomaths.”

Thanks to the efforts of his relatives, Ignaci Domeyko was released in January or February 1824. The court verdict, sealed by the emperor on August 14 and announced on September 6, 1824, was, in comparison with the sentences, for example, against Tomasz Zan or Jan Chechot, lenient: the court decision ordered to live under police supervision on the family estate without the right to go anywhere. leave and hold government positions.

Domeyko spent six years on his uncle’s estates, first in Zhibartovshchizna, then in Zapolye. Translated the songs of Ossian and the Koran into Polish (together with the priest Dioniz Khlevinsky). He was engaged in farming - he introduced agricultural innovations, built mills, distilleries, and sawmills. The life of a landowner, however, did not appeal to him.

In 1829, police supervision was removed from him. This made it possible to take part in legal social activities. In 1830 he was elected to the Grodno sejmik.

Rebellion and emigration

In the same year, 1831, he left Lithuania for the first time. Visited Warsaw, where he met Joachim Lelewel. When he returned to his homeland, the Polish Uprising of 1830 began. Domeyko took part in it, fought in parts of the corps of General Desidery Khlapovsky, at one time together with Emilia Plater and her cousins Caesar and Vladislav Plater, and also met Dr. Karol Marcinkovsky. After the lost battle of Shawli in the summer of 1831, together with other rebels, he retreated to Prussia, where he was interned.

At the end of the year he received permission to leave and at the beginning of 1832 he left for Dresden. In Dresden, he again became close to Adam Mickiewicz and communicated with Anthony Edward Odynets. Traveled to Saxony, Switzerland, visited Freiberg, where he got acquainted with the Mining Academy.

France

In August 1832, together with Mickiewicz and other emigrants, he arrived in Paris. Participated in the activities of various emigrant associations. He helped Mickiewicz rewrite the epic poem “Pan Tadeusz” (he served as the prototype for the housekeeper Żegota, one of the heroes of the poem). He attended lectures at the Sorbonne and the French College, studied at the Botanical Garden, and participated in geological excursions.

In 1834 he entered the Mining School (French: École des Mines). He compiled a geographical, geological and economic map of the former lands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and wrote extensive comments on it (the map and comments were not published; the materials were used in other publications). In 1837 he received a diploma as a mining engineer. In the same year, he accepted an invitation from the La Serena Mining School in Coquimbo in northern Chile.

Chile

Bust of Domeyko at the University of Chile

Until 1846, he taught at the La Serena Mining School (Coquimbo; now the university in this city bears his name). He conducted various studies, completed mineralogical collections, founded a physical laboratory, a scientific library, and a zoological collection. According to the methodology developed by Domeyko, knowledge was consolidated through practical studies in chemistry, physics, and geology. In 1845, he published a book in Spanish describing the life, culture, and language of the Araucan Indians, translated into several languages.

After the expiration of the contract, he settled in Santiago de Chile. In December 1848 he received chill