Coins of the Russian Empire Nicholas 2. Where did the money of Nicholas II go. Copper coins in the everyday life of Russians at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries
The reign of Nicholas II went down in history as a very turbulent period. The revolutionary movements that originated under Alexander III gained strength until they led to the Revolution of 1905. This time the uprising was suppressed. To avoid new unrest, several reforms were adopted regarding freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the establishment of the State Duma. But all this only contributed to the strengthening of popular movements. In 1914, new interstate alliances led to Russia's entry into the First World War. The opposition took advantage of the weakening of the economy and power, and at the beginning of 1917 the February Revolution took place, during which Nicholas II abdicated the throne. In March, the Provisional Government came to power. A year and a half later, in July 1918, the emperor was shot in Yekaterinburg along with his family.
There were also many changes in the coinage of this time. In 1895-1898, a monetary reform was carried out under the leadership of S.Yu. Witte, during which the gold ruble became the basis of monetary circulation (before that, silver was considered the main one). The weight of gold coins is reduced by one and a half times. In 1897, coins of the old weight were minted for the last time, but with an increased denomination (15 and 7.5 rubles). In 1915-1916, due to the difficult economic situation, it was planned to introduce lightweight copper-nickel coins in denominations from 3 to 25 kopecks; lower denominations were to remain copper, but one and a half times lighter. The issue of introducing steel money was even considered. All developed versions remained trial ones and are now highly valued among collectors.
Monetary reform S.Yu. Witte meant reducing the weight of gold coins by one and a half times. Experiments with the development of new monetary units (imperial and rus) were not successful; the imperial remained a counting concept equal to 15, and not 10 rubles as before. To simplify calculations and prepare the population for the new money, in 1897, coins of non-standard denominations of 15 and 7.5 rubles were issued in multi-million circulations. 15 rubles has two varieties, differing in the displacement of the inscription relative to the portrait.
Possibly the most famous gold coin The Russian Empire with a portrait of Nicholas II and a coat of arms on the reverse side with a face value of 10 rubles became one of the symbols of autocracy. A huge number of them were issued, so these coins became the main item for treasures from the Civil War. It was minted annually from 1898 to 1904, then in 1906, 1909, 1910 and 1911. According to unofficial information, they could have been produced in the 1920s for international payments.
Gold 5 rubles with a portrait of Nicholas II and a double-headed eagle were minted from 1898 to 1911, except for 1905 and 1908. The 1907 coins are of great value due to a very limited mintage (a little over 100 pieces). There is a pattern on the edge, with the exception of some issues with a smooth edge. The neck trim contains the engraver's initials.
Rubles, like other large silver coins, under Nicholas II had the same design, weight and fineness as under Alexander III, but with a portrait of the new emperor. Minted annually from 1895 to 1915. Before 1902 and in 1913 they had several variants, differing in the designations on the edge. Among the issues of 1896-1899 there are examples of foreign coinage with one and two stars, or with ticks.
50-kopeck coins of the Nikolaev era had the same design as rubles: a portrait of Nicholas II in profile on one side, the coat of arms and denomination on the other. They were minted every year except 1905. Onets of 1896-1899 were issued not only in St. Petersburg, but also abroad; these have markings in the form of stars or birds on the edge instead of the initials of the mintzmeister.
Since 1901, the production of 20-kopeck coins of the 1867 model from bilon (500 standard) silver has been resumed. Their minting continued until the beginning of 1917. In addition to the designation of the mint, the coins bear the initials of the mintmaster - FZ, AR, EB and VS. Since 1915 designation mint(letters SPB) are missing.
Coins in denomination of 15 kopecks were issued from 1896 to the beginning of 1917, except for 1910, according to the 1867 model. Some copies with the date "1916" were minted at the Osaka Mint (Japan); they do not have the initials of the mintmaster under the eagle. Since 1915, the designation of the mint (the letters SPB) has been absent.
Issued annually in 1895-1917 according to the 1867 model from 500 silver, coin weight - 1.8 grams. Under the eagle are the initials of the mintzmeister: the letters AG, EB, FZ, AR and BC. Since 1915, the designation of the mint (the letters SPB) has been absent. Some of the copies with the date "1916" were minted at the Osaka Mint (Japan), they do not have the initials of the mintmaster under the eagle.
Silver nickels weighing 0.9 grams of the 1867 model under Nicholas II were minted from 1897 to 1915, except for 1907. Copper coins of this denomination exist only with the dates “1911”, “1912” (letters “SPB”) and “1916”, “1917” (without letters), they are made according to the 1867 model.
Half-kopeck coins with the monogram of Nicholas II were issued in 1894-1900 and in 1908-1916, until 1915 they were marked with the mint mark. Among the coins of 1895 there is a rare monogram variant, which has three petals in the upper curls of the letter “H”.
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Born in 1868. Son of Alexander 3.
Under Nicholas 2, the economic development of Russia took place in Russia and at the same time, socio-political contradictions grew, leading to the revolution of 1905-1907 and the February Revolution of 1917.
In 1905 - "Bloody Sunday"". The shooting of St. Petersburg workers who went to Nicholas 2 with a petition about workers' needs.
In 1914, the First World War began, the state of the country worsened, and the authority of Nicholas 2 fell.
In February 1917, an uprising broke out in Petrograd. On March 2, 1917, Nicholas 2 abdicated the throne.
In April 1918 he was shot.
1/4 kopeck 1900
Copper. Weight - 0.82 g.
Diameter - 13.2 mm.
Circulation - 4,000,000 pcs.
Coins were issued in 1895, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1909, 1910 and 1915.
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1/2 kopeck 1915
Copper. Weight - 1.64 g.
Diameter - 16.2 mm.
Circulation - 12,000,000 pcs.
On the obverse, the monogram of Nicholas 2 was minted, instead of a double-headed eagle.
Minted from 1895 to 1900 and from 1908 to 1916.
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Kopek 1900
Copper. Weight - 3.28 g. 
Diameter - 21.7 mm.
Circulation - 30,000,000 pcs.
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2 kopecks 1900
Copper. Weight - 6.55 g.
Diameter - 24.2 mm.
Circulation - 20,500,000 pcs.
The coin design appeared in 1867 under Alexander 2
Minted annually from 1895 to 1916.
A bowl of buckwheat porridge cost 2 kopecks.
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3 kopecks 1899
(trynka, treshnikov)
Copper. Weight - 9.83 g.
Diameter - 28 mm.
Circulation - 11,666,667 pcs.
They were also produced annually from 1895 to 1916 in large quantities.
In Moscow, in a cheap tavern, cabbage soup with meat cost 3 kopecks.
A kilogram of table salt cost the same 3 kopecks.
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5 kopecks 1900
Silver 500 standard.
Weight - 0.90 g.
Diameter - 15.1 mm.
Circulation - 4,003,009 pcs.
For 5 kopecks - a kilogram of old harvest potatoes, fresh ones cost 15 kopecks.
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5 kopecks 1916
(Penny, nickel)
Copper. Weight - 16.38 g.
Diameter - 32.4 mm.
Circulation - 8,000,000 pcs.
They were manufactured over three years - in 1911, 1912 and 1916.
A loaf of rye bread cost 4 kopecks.
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10 kopecks 1900
Silver 500 standard.
Weight - 1.80 g.
Diameter - 17.5 mm.
Circulation - 14,000,009 pcs.
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15 kopecks 1900
(five kopecks)
Silver 500 standard.
Weight - 2.70 g.
Diameter - 19.7 mm.
Circulation - 12,665,009 pcs.
“Here they are - two five-altyn, and I’m sober” — “At the Bottom” by M. Gorky.
A glass of vodka cost 7-10 kopecks.
A liter of fresh milk cost 14 kopecks.
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20 kopecks 1917
Silver 500 standard.
Weight - 3.60 g.
Diameter - 22 mm.
Circulation - 3,500,000 pcs.
A kilogram of pasta is 20 kopecks.
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25 kopecks 1900
900 silver.
Weight - 5.00 g.
Diameter - 23 mm.
Circulation - 584,004 pcs.
“Women and girls carry bricks to the station and load the cars and receive a quarter a day for this” - “In the Ravine” by A.P. Chekhov.
A kilogram of cottage cheese - 25 kopecks.
A kilogram of granulated sugar is 25 kopecks.
A kilogram of fresh bream - 24 kopecks.
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50 kopecks 1900
(fifty kopecks, half kopecks)
900 silver.
Weight - 10.00 g.
Diameter - 26.75 mm.
Circulation - 3,360,004 pcs.
The letters on the obverse "BM" mean "By the grace of God."
A liter of sunflower oil - 40 kopecks.
A kilogram of tomatoes costs 45 kopecks.
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Ruble 1895
900 silver.
Weight - 20.00 g.
Diameter - 33.65 mm
Circulation - 1,100,002 pcs.
A kilogram of frozen sturgeon -90 kopecks.
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5 rubles 1897
(Golden, semi-imperial)
900 gold.
Weight - 4.30 g.
Diameter - 18.5 mm
Circulation - 5,372,000 pieces.
By the end of the 19th century "Golden" become
call ten-ruble.
“Still, I’ll get a hundred half-imperials from you” - "Mad Money" Ostrovsky)
Ticket to the Bolshoi Theater - 4 rubles. 50 kopecks
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7 rubles 50 kopecks 1897
900 gold.
Weight - 6.45 g.
Diameter - 21.3 mm
Circulation - 16,829,000 pieces.
The worker's salary is from 7 to 14 rubles per month.
Cow boots – 5 rubles.
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10 rubles 1898
(Imperial, Arabchik, Lobanchik)
900 gold.
Weight - 8.6 g.
Diameter - 22.5 mm
Circulation - 200,000 pcs.
Imperial- means imperial.
Lobanchik- according to the equivalent French gold, which depicted the head of the king of the Bourbon dynasty. Probably very big-headed.
About Arabic- history is silent, and even more so I am.
“Why do we have to move all our foreheads from wallet to wallet?” (Interesting men)" Leskov
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15 rubles 1897
900 gold.
Weight - 12.90 g.
Diameter - 24.6 mm
Circulation - 11,900,033 pcs.
After 1897, “Imperial” began to cost 15 rubles.
A clerk in a store received 15-30 rubles a month.
A long coat cost 15 rubles.
Cash cow - from 60 rubles.
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Coins of Nicholas 2 for Finland
Finland joined Russia in September 1809 and was recognized by Alexander 2 as an autonomous republic.
1 penny 1915
Copper. Weight - 1.28 g.
Diameter - 15 mm.
Circulation - 2,250,000 pcs.
Russian-Finnish coins began to be minted in 1864.
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5d 1897
Copper. Weight - 6.4 g.
Diameter - 25 mm.
Circulation - 592,210 pcs.
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10 pennies 1900
Copper. Weight - 12.8 g.
Diameter - 30 mm.
Circulation - 522,533 pcs.
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25d 1897
750 silver.
Weight - 1.27 g.
Diameter - 16 mm.
Circulation - 450,172 pcs.
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50 penny 1908
750 silver.
Weight - 2.54 g.
Diameter - 18.5 mm.
Circulation - 353,436 pcs.
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1 mark 1907
868 sterling silver.
Weight - 5.18 g.
Diameter - 24.0 mm.
Circulation - 348,136 pcs. Weight - 10.36 g.
Diameter - 27.5 mm.
Circulation - 25,543 pcs.
The coin depicts a Russian double-headed eagle with three crowns, and on the chest is the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Finland.
The 2 mark coin was minted from 1905 to 1908.
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10 marks 1904
900 gold. Weight - 6.45 g.
Diameter - 21.3 mm.
Circulation - 112,012 pcs.
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During World War I, Germany captured western regions Russia was forced to solve the problems of monetary provision for the population of these territories and organize the issuance of its own occupation money. And after the February Revolution in Russia, despite the presence of tsarist and Provisional Government money in the area, occupation money made up the bulk of money in circulation.
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1 kopeck 1916
Metal - steel.
Weight - 2.9 g.
Diameter - 21.5 mm.
Circulation - 7,700,000 pcs.
The inscription reads" area of the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Front«.
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2 kopecks 1916
Metal - steel
Mass -: 5.7 g.
Diameter - 24 mm.
Circulation - 6,100,000 pcs.
Coins were minted in Hamburg and Berlin.
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3 kopecks 1916
Metal - steel
Weight - 8.7 g.
Diameter - 28 mm.
Circulation - 7,100,000 pcs.
Nicholas II reigned for 23 years (1894-1917), at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and was the last king Russian Empire. During the years of his reign, the country experienced significant transformations, embarked on the path of industrialization and a new round of economic development. All this required the modernization of the monetary system, which resulted in Witte’s monetary reform, initiated at the very beginning of the emperor’s reign. As a result, for more than 2 decades, Russia issued numerous coins containing gold, silver and copper.
Among the traditional rubles made of gold and silver, and kopecks made of silver and copper, commemorative and commemorative coins were also issued at this time, an unsuccessful attempt was made to replace rubles with “Rus”, and regional Finnish stamps and pennies were also issued. In 1916, in the occupied Russian lands, Germany issued 1, 2, 3 and kopecks for circulation. However, these coins are also classified as coins from the era of Nicholas II.
The reign of Nicholas II: era and personality
Copper coins were small change and formed the basis of monetary relations among the common people living on the territory of the vast Russian Empire.
The era of the reign of the last emperor of the Russian Empire, Nicholas II (1895-1917), is of interest to both many historians and numismatists. During this period, turning-point phenomena occur for the country, significantly affecting all areas without exception - the economy, society and even the state system.
Speaking about this time, a few words should be said about the personality of the sovereign. Nicholas II is the eldest son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, born on May 18, 1868 (acceded to the throne in 1895). From birth, the future emperor bore the title “His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich.”
But despite the highest title, the contemporaries of Nicholas II saw in him an easy-going person, possessed of natural dignity and always treated ordinary people kindly. Although he received an elite education and rose to the rank of colonel, many noted his indecision in making urgent decisions and even political uncertainty. Indirectly, this turned part of the people against him as a result of defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the 1905 Revolution and after the failures in the First World War, which led to the overthrow of the Tsar himself in 1917.
Moscow, early 20th century
Regardless of the assessment of the personality of Nicholas II, under him, the Russian Empire experienced an obvious economic boom. Thus, during his reign, the population of the empire grew by almost 50,000,000 people (40% more than the previous period). Thanks to active development Agriculture, and more thoughtful and new ways of communication, the “hunger years” due to crop failure at the beginning of the twentieth century were completely eliminated.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Industry is also developing. During the entire reign of Nicholas II, coal production increased 4 times, the volume of cast iron smelting increased by the same amount, and copper production increased 5 times. The number of workers employed in this area is also increasing - from 2 million to 5 million people.
Finally, during the entire reign of the last Russian emperor, the treasury increased significantly. At the beginning of the reign of Nicholas II (1895) it amounted to 1.2 billion rubles, when by the end of this period (1916) it was 3.5 rubles.
In front of the watch shop "Kalashnikov and Son", early 20th century, Moscow
Despite the obvious economic successes of the described period, the First World War began in 1914, which only aggravated internal political tensions. Failures in the war lead to the 1917 uprising in Petrograd, as a result of which the Tsar voluntarily abdicated the throne on March 2. Along with this begins and completely new page in the history of Russia.
Currency reform Yu.V. Witte and the transition to the gold standard
S.Yu. Witte - Minister of Finance, and since 1903 - Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, was one of the most talented political figures of this period. The Witte reform, named after him and carried out in several stages in 1895-1897, provided for the introduction of 100% backing of the overwhelming majority of banknotes issued in circulation with gold and their free exchange for gold (the so-called “monometallism policy”).
First of all, in 1895, gold coins of a new standard were introduced: a 5-ruble gold coin (half-imperial) was valued at 7 rubles. 50 kopecks, and 10-ruble (imperial) - 15 rubles, i.e. the ruble was actually devalued by 1/3. At the same time, the free exchange of credit notes, which along with banknotes were issued into circulation, for gold, was introduced. In an amount not exceeding 600 million rubles, credit notes were backed by gold by no less than 50%, and above this amount by 100%.
Witte's reform was distinguished by its progressive significance: with the transition to the gold standard, a fairly stable monetary system was created that contributed to the development of industry and trade in the country.
As a result of Witte's monetary reform, the structure of the country's monetary circulation changed, and Russia for the period until 1914 received a stable currency backed by gold. If in 1895 banknotes accounted for 91.7% of the total money supply, then by January 1914 in the total money supply gold accounted for 21.2%, silver - 5.4% and banknotes - 73.4%.
However, the requirement of 100% gold coverage for the issue of credit notes limited the issuing activities of the State Bank, which made the monetary system dependent on many factors. For example, dependence on raw materials for the production of coins from various metals was a significant problem during the First World War. Actually, with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the exchange of money for gold was stopped.
Types of coins issued under Nicholas II
Under Nicholas II, a simply huge number of coins were issued, both in number and in the types presented. All coins of the period of interest can be divided into 6 categories. These are gold, silver and copper coins, proof series of coins, as well as commemorative or donative coins issued for special occasions, and regional coins issued for circulation in certain parts of the Russian Empire.
The coins of Nicholas II have been studied very well and are presented in many textbooks and works. Of greatest interest are such works as the corpus of coins of Grand Duke Georgiy Mikhailovich (the last year of publication was 1914, but complete information on coins of the period of interest is collected here); voluminous work by V.V. Uzdechnikov “Coins of Russia. 1700–1917”, as well as detailed reference materials presented in the work of V.V. Bitkin "Consolidated catalog of Russian coins" (in particular, volume 2). In the last work you can find the most detailed information about the circulations and years of issue of all coins. The most up-to-date price comparisons are provided by the annual releases of numismatic catalogs issued by Conros, Wolmar and others. others.
Proof coins
At the very beginning of his reign, Nicholas II, who was not distinguished by his reformist nature, nevertheless tried to introduce new money into circulation instead of rubles, called “Rus”, and which, according to the idea, was supposed to gradually replace rubles. Trial versions were minted in denominations of 5, 15 and 10 russ (a total of five sets of three coins each). But the emperor, for an unknown reason, did not approve of the new money, and its mass release never took place.
In the early years of the introduction of Witte's monetary reform, experimental types of gold and silver coins traditional denominations, but with a modified design in relation to some details. The circulation of such coins was limited, they were not released into mass circulation, and their modern price, due to these circumstances, is significantly higher than ordinary kopecks and rubles.
Throughout the reign of Nicholas II, various experimental coin issues were issued, but the series of nickel coins in small denominations of 1, 1/2 and 1/4 kopecks from 1897-98 deserves special attention. (mirror image), and coins of 25 kopecks and less, issued in 1911 and 1916. Nickel, of course, was cheaper than copper and silver, but the introduction of such money was not carried out under Tsarist Russia, but had already taken place in the Soviet Union.
Golden coins
In connection with the transition to the gold standard, millions of gold coins were issued into mass circulation, issued from 1897 to 1911. After the revolution, the Soviet government also issued royal gold coins and used them for international payments.
Among the gold coins of Nicholas II, the so-called. "imperials" (10 rubles) and "semi-imperials" (5 rubles). Such money was issued only for three years in the period 1895-1897. They always had the inscription “imperial” on them; 125 pieces (10 rubles) and, accordingly, 36 pieces were produced every year.
Their weight corresponded to Aleksandrovsky standards, while the rest had a “light” version. So, if before the beginning of the reign of Nicholas II, the weight of a coin worth 10 rubles (the so-called “stop”) was equal to 12.9 grams, when after it it was 8.6 grams. Imperials are often confused with lightweight 5 and 10 ruble coins, which are not so rare. In 1897, coins of two unusual denominations were also issued - a gold coin of 15 rubles, and 7.5 rubles.
Silver coins
Although during this period the main emphasis was on issuing gold money, silver coins were also issued in large quantities throughout the reign of Nicholas II. They formed the basis of the monetary system of the Russian Empire, were convenient in calculations, and were issued in multi-million copies.
Over three years (1896-1898), three yards produced silver bank coins worth an incredible amount - about 140 million rubles (several times more than in the entire previous 50 years). In the 20th century, silver coins were also printed in large volumes, but in smaller circulations.
Conventionally, the silver coins of Nicholas II can be divided into two groups - the first contain 9 parts of silver and 1 part (i.e. 10%) copper. These are coins of three denominations - 1 ruble, 50 and 25 kopecks; coins in denominations of 20, 15, 10 and 5 kopecks were only half made of silver.
Copper coins
During the reign of Nicholas II, copper coins formed the basis of the country's monetary relations, and they were used for most small settlement transactions. They were issued annually by the St. Petersburg Mint in multi-million circulations until 1917 in such denominations as 5 kopecks, 3 kopecks, 2 kopecks, 1 kopeck, 1/2 kopeck and 1/4 kopeck, according to the model established from the mid-19th century.
Due to their frequent occurrence, they are not of particular interest to many collectors, although there are real rarities here too. These include 5 kopecks and 3 kopecks, as well as 1/2 kopeck and 1/4 kopeck in 1894 and 1917. (years before the coronation of Nicholas II, and in the last year of his reign).
Commemorative and donative coins
These coins were minted in honor memorable dates and important historical events, and most fully reflect the spirit of the era of interest. Issued in gold and silver. Among the gold coins, the 25 ruble and 37.5 ruble (100 francs) coins deserve special attention.
100 francs is a coin considered extremely rare. It was issued in 1902, and is equal in weight to a 25 ruble coin - 32.26 grams. The denomination of the coin is 100 francs. In terms of the then exchange rate in Russian currency – 37.5 rubles.
25 rubles. Coins of this denomination are known, issued in two years - 1896 and 1908. 25 rubles of 1896 in gold were minted for the coronation of Emperor Nicholas. The circulation of the coin is only 301 copies. In 1908, on the occasion of the emperor’s fortieth birthday, a small edition of 25 rubles was also issued. Gift coins, already in the year of their issue, were considered very valuable, as they served as a sign of special attention from the sovereign.
Silver donative coins were often issued under Nicholas II in editions of many thousands, and each time on a specific memorable occasion. The 1896 ruble, minted in honor of the coronation of the Tsar, was presented to all those present, and the circulation amounted to 190 thousand copies. The 1898 ruble was made in honor of the opening of the monument to Alexander II in St. Petersburg. On one side there is a portrait of Alexander III, on the other - a monument to Alexander II.
A 1912 ruble in honor of the installation of a monument near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior to the great Tsar Alexander 3. Another silver ruble of 1912 commemorated the centenary of the victory over Napoleon’s troops. 40 thousand coins were issued with the inscription: “This glorious year has passed, but the deeds accomplished in it will not pass away.” The 1913 silver ruble was issued in honor of the tercentenary of the House of Romanov. And finally, the so-called Gangut ruble is the last anniversary coin of Tsarist Russia, issued in honor of the victory in the battle of Gangut, which took place in 1714.
Regional releases
These coins can be considered the most unusual, because their design reflects the essence of relations between Russia and other countries. In this regard, the most striking example is the Finnish marks and penalties. Finland at that time was part of the Russian Empire, which issued money for circulation exclusively in this region of the Russian Empire.
Under Nicholas II, stamps and pennies were issued almost annually, maintaining the design developed under Alexander II. Only the monogram on the reverse of the penny changed (the initials of the new monarch appeared, written in Latin - N II). The reverse of the stamps was decorated with the eagle of the Russian coat of arms, on the chest of which was inscribed the coat of arms of the Principality of Finland and an inscription of two words at the bottom separated by an asterisk: “Finland * Suomi”. Penalties were issued in the following denominations - 1,5,10, 25 and 50, marks - 1, 10 and 20, respectively. At the then exchange rate, 1 ruble was equal to 4 Finnish marks.
German Occupation Bonds, another unusual regional coin issue, were actually issued by the German government. The 1916 bonds were minted in Germany and issued into circulation in Russia, occupied by German troops in the First World War (Poland, the Baltic states, western Ukraine and Belarus).
On the obverse of the bonds there is a denomination in Russian (1, 2 or 3 kopecks) and the year of issue, inscribed in a Maltese cross. The reverse is represented by the inscription in four rows, in German: “GEBIEST DES OBERBERFELSHABERS OST” (“Office of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the East”) and below the courtyard (issued in Hamburg and Berlin).
Information on some coins and banknotes of the Russian Empire
Copper silver coins of Nicholas the First
Coins of Elizabeth Petrovna for the Baltic states
Commemorative coins of Nicholas the First
Deposit tickets of Nicholas the First
"Masons" by Nicholas I
Rings of Alexander the First
Coins of Peter the Great
Banknotes of Paul the First
Pennies from the drums of Peter the Third
Siberian coins of Catherine II
The first coins in Rus'
Russian coins for Finland
To reduce the cost of coin production, in 1911 the tsarist government planned to carry out monetary reform and replace the silver coin with a copper-nickel one. Test copper-nickel coins in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 25 kopecks were even minted. However, the reform did not take place. However, today these coins are sometimes found at numismatic auctions.
During the First World War, in 1916, Tsarist Russia experienced an acute shortage of copper. To reduce the shortage of this non-ferrous metal, an attempt was made to carry out another monetary reform, which, however, never took place. During the reform, it was planned to reduce the weight of copper change coins in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks, and the resulting copper would be used for the needs of the army and navy. Test pieces were minted, which are very rare today. However, things did not go further; the revolution that took place in the country did not allow the government to carry out this reform.
At one of the numismatic auctions of the Coins and Medals company several years ago, a lot of 6 copper coins from 1916 was presented, then estimated at 20-22 thousand dollars. Today, the auction value of each copy of these proof coins is 7-10 thousand dollars, and in some cases, when a particular copy is in perfect condition, it can reach 40 thousand dollars.
A landmark event in coinage during the reign of Nicholas 1 was the introduction of platinum coins into circulation by the emperor. Platinum coins were minted in three versions: 3, 6 and 12 rubles, all decorated with eagles, and had a circular inscription “so many spools of pure Ural platinum.”
In total, almost 15 tons of the precious metal were spent on minting platinum coins for the period from 1828 to 1845, which amounted to half of the platinum reserve as of 1846. Coins with a face value of 6 rubles were called “platinum duplons”, 12-ruble coins were called “quadruples”, and 3-ruble coins were called “three-ruble coins”.
During the reign of Nicholas the First, copper coins were in circulation with the word “silver” written on them. It seems that the inscription is simple, indicating that copper coins are backed by silver, however, most ordinary people are sure that the coins are made of silver. The reddish color doesn’t bother them, they say, silver used to be like that. I can imagine the expression on the jewelers’ faces when they are brought a copper round to be “melted down into a silver chain.”
The coins have a very simple design. On the obverse is the monogram of Nicholas the First, on the reverse there is the denomination, the inscription “kopecks in silver”, the year of minting and the mint. Even the edge of the coin is simple - smooth.
The price of the coins is not particularly high, but there is a rare 1839, coins from this year are rare, and therefore cost quite a bit of money. There is also the infrequent 1847. Among them there are some real rarities - these are coins from the Warsaw Mint with the designation MW.
There are few varieties among “silver” coins - the differences are mainly related to the monogram (simple and decorated).
The coin was minted at three mints and has the corresponding designations - EM, SM, SPM. The most common option is usually designated EM. The coins came in denominations of 1/4 kopecks, 1/2 kopecks, 1 kopeck, 2 kopecks and 3 kopecks.
Coins of Elizabeth Petrovna for the Baltic provinces are “Livonez”.
They were minted over two years, in 1756-1757. A Russian double-headed eagle is depicted, on the chest of which the Livonian and Estonian coats of arms are placed. Inscription: MONETA LIVOESTONICA, that is, “Livo-Estonian coin.” On some other examples of such coins it is written MONETA LIVONIKA ET ESTLANDIA, that is, “coin of Livonia and Estland”
They were printed for Livoestonia, Livonia and Estland = Estonia. Years of issue: 1756-1757. It is believed that Estonia ceded to Russia under the Treaty of Nystadt with Sweden in 1721. However, for some time after 1721, Estonia was effectively autonomous and was ruled by local Baltic barons. Customs borders between Estonia and Russia were abolished only in 1782.
Catherine 2 coins for payments in Wallachia and Moldova.
Coins for Moldavia and Wallachia were minted in 1771-1774. at the Sadogur private mint commissioned by the Russian government during the war between Russia and Turkey. Having a double denomination, these coins served not so much as a means of payment, but as an indicator of the ratio of local and Russian monetary units, and thereby facilitated the circulation of Russian money in the territory of Moldova and Wallachia, which was mainly used by the Russian army for settlements with the population when purchasing food and fodder
During the reign of Emperor Nicholas I, the following issue of memorial coins was carried out:
In 1834, on the occasion of the opening of the Alexander Column (a monument to Alexander I), the first memorial silver ruble was issued. On the obverse of the coin there was a portrait of Alexander I and the inscription “ALEXANDER THE FIRST B.M.” EMPEROR OF ALL RUSSIA.” The reverse of the coin depicts the Alexander Column and an inscription similar to the inscription on the monument itself: “TO ALEXANDER THE FIRST GRATEFUL RUSSIA. 1834”, and the denomination of the coin is also indicated - “1 RUBLE”.
The next two commemorative coins were minted in 1839 to mark the opening of the monument - the chapel on Borodino Field and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris (1814), which ended the Napoleonic Wars.
This year two varieties of commemorative silver coins were issued, which had the same appearance and differed only in denomination: 1 RUBLE and 1 1/2 RUBLES.
Thus, the total circulation of these coins was 26 thousand pieces. The coin, with a face value of one and a half rubles, was minted in an amount of only 6 thousand pieces, so at this time it is quite rare and is an item of significant collectible value.
The obverse of the coins depicted the profile of Alexander I and two symbolic images: a sword entwined with laurel, personifying the valiant victories of Russian weapons over enemies; The “all-seeing eye” is a symbol of the divine origin of royal power and the king’s piety.
The inscription on the obverse completely repeated the inscription on the 1834 coin.
The reverse of the coin depicted a monument-chapel on the Borodino field, built in honor of the soldiers who died for their Fatherland.
The inscription on the reverse side of the coin contained information about the date of the Battle of Borodino “BORODINO AUGUS 26. 1812" and the opening date of the monument “OPENED AUGUS 26. 1839”, and also indicated the denomination of the coin - “1 RUBLE” or “1 1/2 RUBLES”. The carver of the stamps of both coins was the famous engraver Heinrich Gube.
In 1841 in royal family A pleasant event happened: Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich married a German princess, who took the name Maria Alexandrovna.
To commemorate this solemn event, a memorial ruble was minted, on which there was no denomination designation (which made it very similar to a similar memorial medal). This coin was minted from 83.3 standard silver (used for the mass minting of rubles), which distinguished it from commemorative coins, minted in a higher standard.
On the obverse of the coin there were images of the newlyweds: Tsarevich Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna and the inscription in a circle: “V.K. MARIA ALEXANDROVNA * V.K. ALEXANDER NIKOLAEVICH *.”
The reverse depicted a shield entwined with a wreath, inside which were placed the monograms of Alexander and Mary.
Above the shield was the imperial crown, and on the sides of the shield: on the right was Cupid with a bow in his left hand, on the left was Psyche with a stem of a blooming lily in her right hand. At the bottom of the coin there was an inscription - “APRIL 16, 1841.” - date of marriage.
Establishment of a depository office from Nicholas l.
An important event was the decree on the establishment, on January 1, 1840, of a depository office at the State Commercial Bank, which accepted silver deposits for storage and issued tickets in return for the corresponding amounts. Initially these were tickets in denominations of 3, 5, 10 and 25 rubles, but subsequently tickets of 1, 50 and 100 rubles were introduced.
Each private individual could deposit a certain amount of silver into the depository office and in return receive tickets, which were recognized as equal to a silver coin. Tickets could be easily exchanged for silver. By the end of 1840, there were deposit notes worth 24,169,400 rubles in circulation. The deposit tickets were a complete success. Visitors literally besieged the cash register. Everyone was in a hurry to get tickets in exchange for gold and silver. The cash desk operated until September 1, 1843. Then the issue of deposit tickets was discontinued. The change in the monetary system and the accumulation of metallic money in deposit offices led to the goal outlined by Count E.F. Kankrin, - to the devaluation of banknotes. The release of deposit notes was a precursor to the replacement of banknotes with credit notes. On June 1, 1843, the famous manifesto “On the replacement of banknotes and other banknotes with credit notes” was published.
Nicholas I was known for his tough stance on politics, prohibitions on freethinking and the introduction of severe censorship. In one of his first Decrees in 1826, he banned Freemasonry, also due to the fact that all the leaders of the 1825 uprising were members of Masonic lodges. Freemasonry was prohibited before (three times). In 1822, Alexander I issued a similar Decree, forcing all “free masons” to give signatures about leaving and not joining any lodges in the future. Subscriptions were given, but in reality the work of the Masonic lodges did not stop.
Under Nicholas, the Decree banning Masonic lodges, as they say, came into effect. The Masons went deep underground, or secretly participated in the activities of foreign lodges. It is clear that the loss of positions in Russia was not to their taste.
And then, in 1826, Russia began minting coins with an eagle holding ribbons, parchment scrolls, arrows, and lightning bolts in its paws. Of course, these symbols were given a different, “non-Masonic” meaning. But members of the secret society, in order to prove to themselves and those around them that they, the Freemasons, were still strong, began to spread the rumor: “Well, they officially banned us, but our signs are minted on coins! We know we are strong.” !" Apparently, this gave rise to the stable nickname “Masonic”.
It is quite possible that this nickname and its motivation were invented later, when the prohibitions against Masons were weakened, in order to confirm their power and the inviolability of their presence in the state even during the years of persecution.
In fact, the “Masonic” symbols on the coins of Nicholas I are not such.
The main style of architecture and decorative arts of the first three decades of the 19th century was Empire (from the French empire - empire). Focusing on examples of ancient art, the Empire style primarily relied on the artistic heritage of archaic Greece and imperial Rome, drawing from it motives for embodying the greatness and power of the state: monumental massive porticos (mainly of the Doric and Tuscan orders), military emblems in architectural details and decoration (lictorial bundles, military armor, laurel wreaths, eagles, torches, armor, altars in the form of tripods, etc.). Therefore, the eagle on these coins is correctly called Empire, and not Masonic.
Alexander's rings l
In numismatics, a ring coin is a copper coin issued in 1801-1810, the reign of Alexander I (the time of reforms). The coins have their own unique design and are most often rare for collectors. Why is the coin called a ringer? You can answer this question immediately if you see it. There are rings running along the edge of the coin, and there are two types of rings. Despite the fact that most often you can find coins with a denomination of 5 kopecks, polushki, denga, 1 kopeck, 2 kopecks were minted.
Ring coins, as they are also called, were minted at two mints: Suzdal KM - Kolyvan coin, at the Yekaterinburg Mint - EM. There are some differences in the knots on the coin rings and the variety of double-headed eagles.
PS: Rings are rare due to the very small circulation than the face value less is more the smaller the circulation and, naturally, the higher the price of the coin
Emperor Peter I became famous as a reformer; he did not ignore the monetary system. By the end of the 17th century, a serious crisis was brewing in the country. As a result of constant weight loss, the then current silver coin of 1 kopeck turned into a crumb, no larger than a watermelon seed. In order to pay for a large order of such coins, a great number of such coins were required. The emperor himself called the pennies of that time lice. To change the current situation, the ruler carried out serious reforms in the field of coinage and new coins of that time became a real symbol of the era. Peter I introduced a new decimal system for counting money (1 ruble = 100 kopecks).
Gold coins of that time were minted at the Red and Kadashevsky mints in Moscow. Such specimens are of significant interest to numismatists; their price can be quite high.
As for silver coins, they were minted at that time in two versions: for use on the territory of the Russian Empire and for payments on the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Copper coins were produced in large quantities and differed not only in face value, but also in design, which varied depending on the year of minting and the mint.
Assignment circulation during the reign of Paul I
On November 27, 1796, it was finally decided not to re-mint the copper coin according to the 32-ruble foot from a pood. In this regard, the question arose about banknotes issued against expected profits. The same document stated that with the abolition of the redistribution and “through the destruction of the expected profit, a decree is needed so that the six million allocated to the treasury are either returned to the bank for destruction, or ordered to be deposited into the treasury account, added to other amounts owed to the bank.” There is a note from Prince A.B. on what to do with the remaining 6 million rubles. Kurakina: “Burn in the square in front of the palace. Find out where the tourniquet is. Burn the unreleased 6,000,000, and the rest released as you enter.”
The exchange of coins for banknotes began in St. Petersburg on January 1, and in Moscow on May 1, 1798. It was led by Prosecutor General Prince A.B. Kurakin. He personally reported on the progress of the operation to the emperor.
In total, 2.4 million rubles worth of gold and silver coins were sent for exchange. Since there was not enough domestic production of precious metals, a special Office for the Purchase of Metals was established at the Assignation Bank, which was engaged in the purchase, in particular, of Dutch chervonets for their subsequent recoining. The exchange conditions were very favorable for the holders of banknotes, since the exchange fee established during the exchange, according to the decree of July 21, 1798, was increased from 30 to 40 kopecks, and was lower than the exchange rate. Banknotes were presented “for large sums”, and the Assignation Bank issued 10 thousand rubles in specie at the beginning of the year, and 8 thousand rubles each from the second half of the year. in a day. The entire stock is 2.4 million rubles. in specie was spent in 10 months. Contrary to expectations, this operation did not have a significant impact on the change in the rate of banknotes and the reduction in the volume of presentation for exchange. The coin either ended up in savings or was put into speculative circulation, so on October 12, 1798, A.B. Kurakin presented the emperor with a detailed analytical report on the disappointing results of the financial transaction, and in mid-October the exchange was suspended.
On December 22, 1800, Paul I approved a plan for issuing banknotes of a new type, for which they planned to exchange old banknotes within three and a half years. He was prompted to this by the numerous forgeries paper money(by 1800, the cost of buying back fake banknotes amounted to 200 thousand rubles), and the desire to “make them stronger.”
Thus, the destruction of paper money by exchanging it for coins, conceived by Paul I, ended in failure, as did the attempt to raise the exchange rate of the assigned ruble. At the end of the Pavlovsk era, at the end of 1800, the volume of paper money increased to 212.7 million rubles, and the exchange rate of the assigned ruble fell to 66 1/4 kopecks.
The level and development of money turnover in any country, both in ancient times and to this day, like a litmus test, reflects the economic and socio-political development within the state and determines its weight on the world stage. Monetary reforms occur at critical moments in the life of the state; moreover, they cause qualitative changes in the economic, social and political spheres.
In the middle of the 17th century in Rus', an attempt was made to improve the Russian monetary economy and adapt it to new socio-economic and political conditions. It went down in history as the monetary reform of 1654-1663, carried out by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
Alexei Mikhailovich (Quiet) (1629-1676) - Russian Tsar (from 1645), the second representative of the Romanov dynasty on the Russian throne, son and successor of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov and his second wife and Tsarina Evdokia Lukyanovna (nee Streshneva). Alexey Mikhailovich was an educated man who knew foreign languages. He created the order of Secret Affairs (1654-1676), which was subordinate only to the king and exercised control over the state.
Alexey Mikhailovich Romanov began his reign at the age of 14, when he was first solemnly “announced” to the people. At the age of 16, having first lost his father, and soon his mother, in 1645, he ascended the throne, married Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya, and had thirteen children with her (including the future Tsars Ivan and Fyodor, the princess-ruler Sophia ).
Alexei Mikhailovich died on January 30, 1676 at the age of 47. According to testamentary documents, back in 1674, his eldest son Fedor became heir to the throne. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich inherited a powerful power recognized abroad to his sons. One of his sons - Peter I the Great - managed to continue the work of his father, completing the formation of an absolute monarchy and the creation of the great Russian Empire.
At the beginning of the reign of the Tsar in Rus' there were only 3 types of coins: kopek, polushka, denga. Also, during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, gold coins were actively minted. These include golden altyn, Ugric, quarter Ugric and double Ugric. But gold coins were mainly used as rewards, rather than as trading coins.
During the reign of Nicholas II, anniversary and commemorative (gift) coins were issued to mark special occasions.
Paper money and change stamps - money of Nicholas II
In September 1915, the tsarist government decided to issue paper substitutes for small change coins. They became change marks-money, which, as was then believed, would make up for the shortage small coins while the war was going on. For their production, cliches of postage stamps issued in 1913 for the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov were used. The stamps in denominations of 1, 2 and 3 kopecks had portraits of Peter I, Alexander II and Alexander III, respectively, and on the back there was the inscription “Circulation equal to that of a copper coin.” On stamps in denominations of 10, 15 and 20 kopecks there were portraits of Nicholas II, Nicholas I, Alexander I and the inscription “Circulated on par with a small silver coin.” These banknotes were made from thin cardboard with teeth. Stamp money was printed on machines that had previously produced stamps, all on the same EZGB.
In practice, using stamps instead of coins turned out to be extremely inconvenient. They were small and wore out quickly. It happened that when trying to pay with them at the market, gusts of wind carried the colorful “stamps” away from the counter. Perhaps that is why they received the apt name “moths” among the people. A few months later, in addition to stamps, paper treasury notes began to be printed in denominations of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 50 kopecks. These signs turned out to be more convenient for everyday calculations. With the release of treasury bills, the circulation of stamp money was reduced. Treasury bills in denominations of 10, 15 and 20 kopecks. it was decided not to put them into circulation, and the printed edition was destroyed.
The issue of money stamps and treasury bills accelerated the process of coins disappearing from cash circulation. Already from the beginning of 1916, the mass of banknotes in circulation consisted almost entirely of paper money: these were stamp money, paper treasury notes and credit notes of 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 rubles.
"Drum" pennies
When Peter III came to power, numerous innovations followed, including the introduction of a monetary reform. Under Peter III, copper coins were minted with the symbolic battle image of “Drums” and other military regalia (Peter III loved the army and everything related to war), so these kopecks are called “drum”.
Later, all drum coins were reminted, so few of them survive and their price is high.
The Siberian coin is a copper coin minted from December 5, 1763 to June 7, 1781 exclusively for circulation in Siberia.
Coins were issued in denominations of polushka, dengu, kopeck, 2 kopecks, 5 kopecks and 10 kopecks by the Suzunsky Mint from Kolyvan copper.
In 1763, the Cabinet of Her Imperial Majesty sent a request to the office of the Kolyvan-Voznesensk factories about the possibility of using copper, obtained as a by-product when smelting silver and gold from ore, for the minting of copper coins. The factory office reported that there was enough copper (more than 500 tons, which should be enough for 4 years of minting, and taking into account the copper mined during this period - for 5 years), but a certain amount of silver and gold remained in it (“... not a small amount of silver and a noble piece of gold,” according to initial calculations, their shares were 0.79% for silver and 0.01% for gold per pood), and therefore minting a copper coin from it at the usual rate (16 rubles per pood) “... is not only unprofitable , but also regrettable." The President of the Coinage Department, Actual State Councilor I. Schlatter, calculated the foot for the Kolyvan alloy, based on the existing coin feet for copper, silver and gold coins. The silver content corresponded to 7 rubles. 35.59 kopecks, gold - 1 rub. 1.02 kopecks, copper - 15 rubles. 87 kopecks The total was 24 rubles. 24 kopecks from a pood, but in case there were a little more precious metals, Schlatter rounded up the foot to 25 rubles.
On December 5, 1763, Empress Catherine issued a decree on the circulation of a new copper coin manufactured at the Kolyvano-Voznesensk factories; circulation was limited only to the territory of the Siberian province. An image of the new coins was attached to the decree. Coins of ten-, five- and two-kopeck denominations were provided with the inscription “Kolyvan copper” along the edge; later this inscription was replaced by the letters KM on the obverse.
Due to improvements in silver smelting technology, the total content of precious metals in Kolyvan copper decreased to an average of 0.59% by 1768 (silver had to be added to maintain value) and to 0.39% by 1778. The factory office proposed minting a coin in a 20-ruble foot, but in the end it was decided to stop minting a special Siberian coin.
On June 7, 1781, a decree was issued to stop the minting of Siberian copper coins and switch to national stamps and a 16-ruble foot “without any counting of the small particles of gold and silver contained in that copper.” The previously minted Siberian coin remained in circulation.
The first batch of Siberian coins was issued in 1766 and amounted to 23,277 rubles 52 ½ kopecks. In total, 3,656,310 rubles worth of Siberian coins were issued; some sources indicate the figure as 3,799,661 rubles.
The decree on the minting of copper coins was signed by Catherine I in 1725 and the Yekaterinburg mining factories began minting new money, in denominations from hryvnia to ruble, from their own red copper, one pood of which cost only 10 rubles, which was much cheaper than Hungarian and Swedish.
To organize the minting of copper processing, the Swedish master Deichman went to the Urals together with his assistant, mining master Gordeev. The chief manager of the state-owned factories of the Urals, Villim Genin, was assigned to control such an important state undertaking.
Russian square coins were minted in the form of copper plates, which had only a one-sided image. On the front side, in the corners, double-headed eagles with three crowns were depicted. The bodies of the eagles were depicted in the form of a shield, on which Catherine’s monogram was depicted, containing the letters J J and E. The eagles held a scepter and an orb in their paws.
In the center of the platinum there is an imprint with the denomination of the coin, the year of minting and the place of issue. WITH reverse side the coin was smooth. The bulk of the circulation was printed in 1726 in the amount of 38,730 rubles. In the same year, square coins of nickels and kopecks were issued, which differed somewhat in the design on the obverse from the ruble coins.
Square coins with a ruble denomination were minted for two years, in 1725 and 1726, the size was 188 * 188 mm and weighed 1.636 kg. Poltina weighed 800g and was produced during 1726. The half-poltina had four varieties, was produced in 1725 and 1726, and weighed 400 grams.
Copper plates of square coins with a denomination of 1 hryvnia were minted from 1725 to 1727. The size of the copper kopecks was 62*62 mm, weight - 163.8 g. In 1726, 6 varieties of hryvnia were minted, so they became the most common square coins, accounting for about 80% of all copper plates issued under Catherine I.
The kopek had two varieties measuring 23*23 mm and weighing 16.38 grams. There were three varieties of nickels, measuring 45*45mm and weighing 105.95 grams. These are the rarest coins; they were issued in the amount of 43 rubles and 51 kopecks.
Square coins never became full-fledged money, although there were all the prerequisites for this, and on December 31, 1726, Catherine I issued a decree to stop the production of copper plates and withdraw minted ones from circulation. Subsequently, the square copper money was sent to be melted down to produce the 1730 money.
Very few of these square coins have survived to this day; almost all of them have become numismatic rarities and exclusives.
The first coins in Rus'
Prince Vladimir began minting coins for the first time in Rus' - gold ("zlatnikov") and silver ("srebrenikov"), reproducing the Byzantine models of that time. Most of the coins of Vladimir depict a prince sitting on a throne and the inscription:
“Vladimr on the table” (Vladimir on the throne); there are options with a chest image (see picture) and other legend text, in particular, on some versions of the silver pieces the name of St. Basil is indicated, in whose honor Vladimir was named in baptism. Judging by the incomplete form of the words (not Volodimr, but Vladimr; not gold, but zlato), the coinmakers were Bulgarians. Zlatniks and silver coins became the first coins issued on the territory of Rus'. Only on them were preserved lifetime symbolic images of Prince Vladimir, a man with a small beard and long mustache.
The princely sign of Vladimir is also known from coins - the famous trident, adopted in the 20th century. Ukraine as the state emblem. The issue of the coin was not determined by actual economic needs - Rus' was well served by Byzantine and Arab gold and silver coins - but by political goals: the coin served as an additional sign of the sovereignty of the Christian sovereign.
Finnish money of the Russian emperor
After Finland joined the Russian Empire in September 1809, it was recognized by Emperor Alexander II as an autonomy in which it was necessary to circulate not Russian coins, but its own currency, and abandon the Swedish coins that had always circulated in Finnish territories throughout its history.
At the insistence of the Russian government, a stamp was introduced in the Grand Duchy of Finland. The currency got its name from this ancient Finnish word meaning “money” and was also a common name for coins. One stamp contained 100 pennies.
“Penny” is also a familiar word for the Finnish population; in the Middle Ages it was already used to name coins and it is consonant with the Finnish word “pieni” - small.
Although it is interesting to look at the introduction of a new monetary system in Finland through the prism of the interests of the Russian Empire. In this case, this reform can be viewed as a financial experiment in integration into Europe. By "coincidence" the initial silver content in the mark was equal to the amount of silver in the French franc and 1/4 of Russian ruble. Since 1864, the mark was no longer tied to the ruble, and it switched completely to the international silver standard.
This economic experience was preceded by the prehistory of 1859: the created coin commission made a proposal for organizing financial affairs in the empire, the essence of which was to make the monetary unit 4 times smaller. But this proposal was rejected by the king and was implemented later in Finland.
Russian-Finnish coins began to be minted in 1864 by the Helsingfors Mint from silver (marks: 1 and 2, 868 fine; pennies: 25 and 50, 750 fine) and copper (pennies in denominations 1, 5 and 10). During the first year of operation, the mint produced: 30 thousand copper coins of 1 penny; 104 thousand pieces of 50 silver pennies; 1 mark in the amount of 75 thousand coins. During 1865, more than 1 million copper coins of 1, 5 and 10 pennies, about 4 million silver coins of 25 pennies, 50 pennies and 1, 2 marks were minted.
On the obverse of the copper coins was the monogram of Alexander II under the imperial crown, on the reverse: for one and five pennies - the date and denomination; for ten pennies the date and denomination are in the wreath. The reverses of silver pennies in denominations of 25 and 50 depicted the official Russian eagle with the coat of arms on the chest of the Grand Duchy of Finland - a lion with a sword, and the denomination with a date in a wreath.
On the 1st and 2nd mark coins, the eagle on the reverse was surrounded by an inscription indicating the silver content, as on Russian coins. The only difference is that the inscriptions were written exclusively in Latin.
The coins of the Crimean Khanate are historical monuments covering a significant period of time - from the founding of the Gerai dynasty in the mid-15th century to the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Empire in 1783. These coins illustrate not only the years in which a particular khan ruled and the name of the mint, but also the economic situation in the khanate.
The founder of the Giray dynasty is the first Khan of Crimea, Hadji I Giray, who, after a long struggle, achieved the independence of Crimea from the Golden Horde. There are a number of versions of the pedigree of Hadji Giray, but most likely, Hadji Giray belonged to the famous Mongol-Turkic family of Kerey (Kirey, Giray), and only later was assigned to the Golden Family.
Some representatives of the Gerai dynasty also occupied the throne of the Kazan, Astrakhan and Kasimov khanates.
The last Geray on the Crimean throne was Shahin Geray, who abdicated the throne, moved to the Russian Empire, and then to Turkey, where he was executed. There was a side line of Choban Geray, one of whose representatives, Adil Geray, occupied the Crimean throne.
Today, one of the contenders declaring themselves as the heir to the throne is Jezzar Pamir Geray, who lives in London.
The Crimean Khanate (Crimea: Qırım Hanlığı, قريم خانلغى) is a state of the Crimean Tatars that existed from 1441 to 1783. The name itself is Crimean yurt (Crimea: Qırım Yurtu, قريم يورتى). In addition to the Crimea itself, it occupied the lands between the Danube and the Dnieper, the Azov region and most of the modern Krasnodar region of Russia. In 1478, the Crimean Khanate officially became an ally of the Ottoman state and remained in this capacity until the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace of 1774. It was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1783. Currently, these lands belong to Ukraine (west of the Don) and Russia (east of the Don).
The last Russian Emperor Nicholas II left behind a huge country with millions of inhabitants holding various examples of coins from the imperial era. Soon all these coins will lead to depreciation in trade and market transactions. They are being replaced by new ones - Soviet ones. For numismatists, many silver coins of Nicholas 2 have been of great interest for a whole century. This material will tell you the most interesting samples and the current cost of their variants.
All coins issued under Emperor Nicholas II dated from 1895-1917. Most of the coins were kopecks, and the highest denomination was the Nikolaev silver ruble. The production of ruble monetary units was carried out only using 900 silver.
Throughout the entire period of the sovereign's reign, only minor changes were visible in the depiction of the emperor's portrait. Having succeeded his father, Alexander III, on the throne, the parameters of the portrait were preserved, only the turn changed, moving to the west (Alexander 3 looked east). Nicholas 2 issued 1 ruble from the beginning of his reign until 1915. Outwardly, it was not fundamentally different, it was the same, for example, as the ruble of 1898 or the ruble of 1899.
Although the denomination coins are similar in many respects, there are still some features. Here, for example, is the very first ruble coin of 1985:
- reverse - an image of a double-headed eagle (symbol of the empire), with a scepter in the right paw and an orb in the left. Under the relief eagle is the denomination of the currency and the year of issue;
- obverse - a portrait of Nicholas II throughout the center, on the left along the circumference the inscription “B. M. NICHOLAY II”, on the right - “AND THE AUTODER OF ALL RUSSIA”;
- product weight - 20 grams;
- diametrical size - 33.65 mm;
- circulation amounted to about 1.1 million products;
- the side surface - “pure silver 4 spools 21 lobes” and the author’s initials “A.G.”, items with a smooth edge were less common.
The 1896 ruble already has a greater number of varieties due to the expansion of the minting area by the Paris Mint and the Brussels Mint. The maximum ruble coin of this year is similar to the ruble of 1898 in that they have a 180-degree alignment, which is not observed in the others. Here are the differences between the side inscriptions of the ruble:
- smooth edge;
- with two stars instead of the inscription (Brussels Mint);
- standard inscription as on the 1895 example.
Its circulation amounted to more than 10 million copies. This year was distinguished by the original issue of a special type - the 1896 “Coronation” ruble, on the reverse of which there is no image of an eagle, but only a scepter crossed with an orb.
The silver ruble of 1898, with the same parameters, adds another appearance, where instead of an inscription on the edge there is one star.
The 1899 ruble begins to be supplemented by other initials printed on the side of the product - E B or F Z. This happened due to a change in stamps at the St. Petersburg Mint. Similar to previous monetary units, occasionally the ruble of 1899 was mistakenly minted with a smooth edge.
Table of comparative assessment of ruble coins in good preservation:
Nicholas 2 penny coin products Thus, the price of the product depends not only on the type of coin, but also on the circulation. The ruble of 1899 and the previous one were minted in much larger quantities, so the price tag is lower. In any case, any well-preserved silver ruble of Nicholas II represents excellent value at auction among both amateurs and professionals.
The kopecks issued under the emperor were divided into 3 categories:
- Billon - the base of the coin alloy consisted of 500 silver, such products had the following denominations:
- 5 kopecks;
- 10 kopecks;
- 15 kopecks;
- 20 kopecks.
- Silver - 25 and 50 kopeck monetary units were made from the highest standard of silver (900).
- Copper - the smallest monetary items were made of copper alloy: 1, 2, 3-kopeck coins.
The images of coins in denominations of 50 and 25 kopecks were identical to the ruble copies, repeating the portrait of the autocrat on the obverse and the coat of arms on the reverse.
Many coins stopped being issued in 1915, but, for example, the half-fifty coin was minted from 1895 to 1901. The price of coins issued during the period last year minting, reaches 200 thousand rubles per piece due to the limited edition, with a cost of only 150 rubles.
Small change copper coins had a massive circulation; outwardly they had a distinct coat of arms of the empire on the reverse, but on ½ and ¼ and 1-kopeck coins reverse side decorated with the signature monogram of Nicholas II. On the 2-kopeck coin in silver, the monogram replaces the coat of arms.
You can find out how much a certain penny monetary unit is worth at numerous online auctions. 900 silver coins are much easier to sell, even considering the cost. The price tag of such products is ten times, sometimes even a hundred times higher than the cost of copper or 500 standard samples.
Here is a comparative table of the cost of different-sized monetary units depending on the denomination of 1901:
Comparative table of penny products 1917: The final year of imperial power was marked by difficult times, the minting of coins was suspended. Only a few samples came out of the mint: 10, 15, 20-kopeck pieces. Naturally, the price category of such coins is very high. Coins issued from 1915 to 1917 distinguished by the absence of mint initials and the small form of issue due to the First World War.
Special Issues
There are coins made by special coinage Proof, giving coins a special background shade - either mirrored or smooth darkened. They were made primarily for professional collectors. Currently, it is extremely rare for unique items to be discovered at auctions.
The reign of Nicholas 2 was filled with many anniversaries and significant events of the period Russian Empire. In honor of such memorable dates, special coins were minted to represent a specific incident:
A wide variety of silver coins from the reign of the last Russian emperor attracts many historians, numismatists, and hobbyists from all over the world. The difficult political situation in the country at the beginning of the 20th century limited the minting of coins. Multimillion-dollar coin issues of the late 19th century are several times lower than the metal money of the early 20th century. However, there are very rare coins issued in limited quantities, which are practically never found in public trading. In any case, Nikolaev silver money items only become more expensive over time.
