Copper coins in tsarist Russia

Ancient copper coins, which were in use a few centuries ago, have not lost their popularity. Moreover, the interest to them from the collectors grows every year. They know for sure: there are copies of the so-called "regular" coinage, which are not of great value, because they are even a dime a dozen. However, there are really rare, valuable and expensive coins.

It's no secret that the design of coins changed many times in connection with the change of the government of the country. For the first time, Peter I introduced them into use, and in general the Russian monetary system began with imported money. In the 10th and 11th centuries, when there were still hryvnias in the course - whole ingots of silver (imported, because they had not yet been mined) - silver and gold coins are being minted. At that time, each of the principalities had its own currency. Each coin was minted by hand: small pieces of precious wire were cut off, flattened and formed into the desired shape. By the way, therefore the shape of those coins was often incorrect, with an indistinct pattern.

Further in the monetary system of Russia there is a decline. This is the time of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, when the invaders take away most of the silver in paying tribute. It's not up to coinage! And only at the end of the 14th century it gradually regains its positions. Begin to make lightweight silver and copper coins, called "scales". They became the prototype of the future penny. We minted them in a simple way, simply cutting off a piece from a hryvnia of solid silver (it was from the word "chop off" that the ruble went). And these same scales were not yet countable - they paid for weight. Every tsar and prince of the Russian state considered it his duty to gradually reduce the weight of coins in order to save silver.

The ruble as a unit of account was introduced by Peter I. In his time copper coins were started to be minted: copecks, pennies, rubles. The coin itself became larger. Then the ruble was about one hundred kopecks (although in fact, a little more). Appeared cops, and they are often falsified because of light weight. Of course, the Tsar did not like this situation. He decided to adopt the experience of Sweden, where in the course were square copper coin-boards. They were full-fledged money, and the face value and cost of manufacturing the boards coincided. Such square coins did not require complicated equipment and high qualification of the chasers.

However, to see in circulation new money to Peter and it was not possible. After his death, already in the beginning of the 18th century Catherine I issued a decree according to which square copper coins began to be minted. Their popularity was justified by the low cost of copper: only 10 rubles per pood.

And although these coins had all chances to become a full currency, this never happened. In 1726, this money was withdrawn from circulation and sent for remelting. And on their basis began to be made copper coins of Russia in the sample of 1730. Rare copies of a square form in our days are very few. They are considered exclusive, and the cost of some coins is simply shocking. Allow yourself to buy such a copy in the collection can not every numismatist. Often this is used by counterfeiters, issuing banal fakes for real copper cards and exposing them at well-known auctions.