2019-10-08
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Coins of ancient Russia
Your coins in Ancient Rus to the VIII century was not minted. In circulation was a silver Roman denarius of I-III centuries, and later the drachma and the Iranian Sassanid dynasty IV-VII centuries. At the end of the VIII century appeared in circulation silver dirhams of the Arab Caliphate, and Byzantine coins — silver miliaris and gold solidi.
At the turn of IX — X centuries, in Russia got its own monetary unit — grivna kun – ingot equal 66,22 grams of silver, which was equal to 25 or 50 kunam rasanam or 150 veveris. The smallest monetary unit of Russia was veveritsa or veksha, which by weight was 1/3 of a gram of silver.
During the reign of Kiev Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich (978-1015гг) in 988, the first Russian coins – silver and gold, which were minted respectively of silver and gold. On the obverse of these coins depicts a Prince seated on a throne, while the reverse depicts Jesus Christ as Byzantine solidi.
On the territory of Ukraine and Belarus often find hoards of silver coins with images of Roman emperors and Latin inscriptions. This is a Roman denarius of the I—III centuries BC as the Slavs at the time development was still very weak, scientists believe that the Roman denarius was not used as money, but rather as decoration or material for the artisans. Roman denarius are the earliest coins, which are found on the territory of our country.
In the VIII—IX centuries. in Russia appear dirhams large silver coins with Arabic inscriptions (Fig. 1). Dirhams minted in the Arab Caliphate, and from there the Arab merchants brought them to the territory of Kievan Rus. Here is the dirham received the Russian name: it was called kunai or nogata, half coons — cutting. Kuhn was 25 grivna kun.
At the end of X century the Arab Caliphate reduced the minting of silver dirhams and the influx of them in Kievan Rus weakened and in the XI century stopped altogether.
On Russia begin to import Western European coins, which were called as well as the Roman, the denarii. These thin silver coins with images of rulers was moved to the Russian names of coins coons or cut.
At the end of X century in Kievan Rus ' begins minting its own coins of gold and silver. The first Russian coins were called gold and silver. On the coin depicts Grand Duke of Kiev and distinctive national emblem in the form of a Trident — the so-called sign of Rurik.
The inscription on the coins of Prince Vladimir (980-1015) was as follows: 'Vladimir on the table, and behold his silver,' which means: 'Vladimir on the throne, and it is his money' (Fig. 2). For a long time in Russia, the word 'silver' — 'silver' was equivalent to the concept of money.
In the XIII century in Russia fell to the Mongol-Tatars. Cities were destroyed, trade stalled. During these difficult years in Russia did not mint coins, and did not bring them from other countries. Between the XII and the XIV century and went down in history under the name 'coinless'.
There is only one kind of 'coins' of time: the heavy silver bullion. They were called 'silver hryvnia'. Was the hryvnia Kiev, hexagonal bars weighing about 160 g. (Fig. 4), and Novgorod, in the form of a long bar weighing about 200 g (Fig. 5). Scientists still have not figured out what items have served as money in petty trade in the 'coinless period'.
We only know that in the XIV century on the Western outskirts of the Russian lands addressed, 'the Prague pennies' minted in the Czech Republic, right on the Eastern edge, in the present Ryazan, Gorky, Vladimir region, dated dirhams of the Golden Horde, small silver coins without images, with Arabic inscriptions (Fig. 3).
However, it is in 'coinless' period appears the main Russian monetary unit is rouble. The ruble was the name of Novgorod silver bullion (Fig. 5), and half a silver ingot — a half (Fig. 5A).
In XIV century one of the first to start chasing the Grand Duchy of Moscow at the famous Prince Dmitry Donskoy (1359-1389). On the coins of this Prince, we see the image of a warrior with battle axe in hand, placed next to the name of Prince Dmitry. The inscription stelara Russian letters. But the other side of the coin is imitating Golden Horde dirhams (Fig. 6).
Follow Tatar inscriptions disappear from the Russian coins in the XV century In the early fifteenth century in Russia there were about 20 centers of coinage. Coins of various principalities differed from each other and weight, and appearance.
On the Novgorod coins laconic inscription reads: 'Great Novagoroda' (Fig. 7). On the coins of Pskov was placed the inscription: 'Denga of Pskov' (Fig. 8). On the coins of Novgorod and Pskov, we do not see the Prince's name, as the highest authority in these cities belonged to the chamber.
On the coins of the Ryazan Principality was portrayed as a kind of emblem of the Principality, the value of which has not yet been solved, and the name of the reigning Prince (Fig. 9). In the Tver coins of hunting scenes (Fig. 10). On the coins of the Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod Principality, which is located adjacent to the possessions of the Golden Horde, kept longer follow the Tatar coins, as we can see in Fig. 11.
Russian silver coin XIV—XV centuries was called 'money'; this word, slightly altered (money) received in the Russian language a broader meaning.
In addition to the silver coins in some of the larger cities minted coins made of copper pools. In Fig. 12 shows a copper coin with the image of a bird and the inscription: 'Polo Moscow'. Silver and copper coins were minted from wire, which were cut into pieces of a certain weight (less than 1G).
These pieces of wire pre-flattened, were struck Ciocana, on which were carved images and inscriptions.
In the process of unification of the Russian principalities into a single state, diversity in weight and appearance of Russian coins began to hamper trade. In 1534 in the Russian centralized state carried out a monetary reform. Was left three mints: Moscow, Pskov, Novgorod, where he minted national coin of only one type.
It was a penny, the money (1/2 a penny) and farthings (1/4 penny). A penny depicted a horseman with a spear (hence the name 'penny') and the inscription: 'Tsar and great Prince Ivan of all Russia' (Fig. 13), at the money — a rider with a sword and the inscription: 'Tsar and great Prince Ivan' (Fig. 14), into the mite — bird and the word 'sovereign' (Fig. 15). 100 cents to the ruble, 50 — fifty, 10 — UAH, 3 — Altyn, but all currencies, except for penny, and penny was only counting concepts.
With 1534 Russian coins remained unchanged until the end of the XVII century, Changing only the names of the kings in the inscriptions.
From that time to the present day preserved the system account (100 kopeks make a ruble) and the names of the main units of money (our rouble, poltinnik — 50 kopecks, fifteen kopecks — 15 cents, dime — 10 cents, a penny).
In the years of the Polish-Swedish intervention in the early XVII century, the Russian monetary system has experienced a severe shock. The invaders proclaimed the Russian Tsar Polish king's son Vladislav and began to be minted in Moscow coins of very low weight with its name (Fig. 16).
In Yaroslavl the government of the Militia led by Minin and Pozharsky in contrast to the interventionist coins were minted coins with the name of Tsar Fedor Ivanovich died in 1598, the last legitimate Tsar of the Rurik dynasty (Fig. 17).
In 1613, after his election to the throne of Mikhail Romanov, the former monetary system was restored.
In 1654 began minting large-denomination of the ruble, poltina, of polupoltina, Altynov as small coins were inconvenient for large commercial accounts. Rubles were minted from silver (Fig. 18) similar to them poltinas — copper, polupoltinas of silver (Fig. 19); then appeared the so-called efimkov with a symptom — European thalers with the coinage stamp and date -1655 (Fig. 20). People are reluctant to use these unusual money to mint them was difficult.
Soon began to mint copper pennies, which in appearance was no different from silver (Fig. 21). Copper penny order of the government, had been relegated to silver. It was very profitable for the Treasury and unprofitable to the people. At that time there was a war with Poland, the people suffered from the General economic ruin. Money has depreciated, the products are much more expensive, the country began a hunger.
In 1662 in Moscow, the popular uprising that went down in history as the 'copper rebellion.'
The frightened government in 1663 canceled the new money. Resumed minting silver kopecks, money, and cushions.
Only at the beginning of the XVIII century, when Peter I, Russian coins were finally changed. From 1700-1704, he began to mint silver rubles, poltinas, polupoltinas, hryvnia, Altyn, copper penny, penny and polupolushka. Gold minted gold coins. They were struck not wire, as in XIV—XVII centuries, and on a special coin blanks — mugs. In this view, the Russian monetary system without any changes lasted until the XX century.
Source: http://www.abc-people.com
