Description: The obverse features Ukraine's small coat of arms, surrounded by inscriptions: "НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ БАНК УКРАЇНИ" and "2017" above, and "П'ЯТЬ ГРИВЕНЬ" below, with the mint mark to the right. A central composition symbolizes the oblast, depicting Nizhyn Gogol State University, Sedniv's St. George's Church, a cathedral relief, a meander ornament, wheat, a crane, trees, and the Desna River.
Inscription: НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ БАНК УКРАЇНИ
П'ЯТЬ ГРИВЕНЬ
2017
Translation: NATIONAL BANK OF UKRAINE
FIVE HRYVEN
2017