Cache Hunting - Discovering A Hoard of Silver Hammered Coins (Story 14)
Silver Hammered Coins of The Czar Ivan IV Vasiljevich (Ivan The Terrible), circa 1533-1584
The history of the coinage of the centralized Russian state of the 16th-18th centuries starts by the monetary reform of the government of the mother of Ivan The Terrible - Elena Glinskaja. The principal task of the monetary reform was introduction of the state currency - the coins which were uniform by the images, weights and milessimal fineness. The new issue of the coins declared the creation of the united and mighty state. This reform put an end to the coinage of the period of the feudal disintegration of the country and determined the type of coinage common for the whole Russia for next 150 years.
The reform was started in 1535 AD. At first, all coins of the low milessimal fineness were excluded from circulation. Then the old "novgorodkas" and "moskovkas" were prohibited. The new face-values of coins appeared: 1 Kopeck (coined at the Novgorod and Pskov mints) with normative weight of 0.68 g, 1 Denga (coined at the Moscow and Tver mints) - 0.34 g, and 1 Polushka (coined at the Moscow, Tver, Novgorod and Pskov mints) - 0.17 g. 1 Kopeck was equal to two Dengas. 1 Denga was equal to two Polushkas. 300 Kopecks equaled to 1 Rouble (now 1 Rouble = 100 Kopecks).
The Kopeck's obverse had an image of Ivan on horseback carrying a spear. The spear was to distinguish the Kopeck from the Denga - its obverse also depicted Ivan on horseback but, holding a sabre or a sword instead. The Polushka's obverse depicted a flying bird. Also the "Sword Kopeck" was coined at the Moscow mint during the beginning phase of the reform. The "Sword Kopeck" had the design similar to the Denga's design but the weight of a Kopeck. The various legends in Old-Russian script were placed on the reverses of all coins.
The remaining 99.8% of coins in a hoard that we dug up consisted of Kopecks - the majority, hammered at the Moscow, Novgorod and Pskov mints, Sword Kopecks coined at the Moscow mint and Dengas coined also at the Moscow mint during the reign of the Czar Ivan IV Vasiljevich. Ivan IV, generally known as Ivan the Terrible, was crowned Grand Prince of Moscow in 1533 at age three. In 1547 he declared himself Czar of all Russia, and began centralizing the Russian government and consolidating his power.
The title Czar was derived from the ancient Roman title of Caesar, as Ivan the Terrible saw Russia as a continuation of the ancient Roman Empire. Right after Ivan IV proclaimed himself a Czar in 1547, he immediately ordered to engrave his new title and add a Tsar’s crown to the horseman portrait on his coins.
Ivan the Terrible engaged in a reign of terror against anyone he thought might oppose him, torturing and executing many thousands of people, including his own son. Entire cities and regions were left depopulated. Thus he earned his title "The Terrible." Though he expanded the Russian Empire eastward into Siberia, his attempts to expand into the Baltics turned into disastrous fiascoes. Sweden and Poland defeated the Ivan's military which had already been weakened by his purges. Having destroyed the economy of the country and having killed his most promising heir, Czar Ivan IV led Russia into the crisis. "The Time of Troubles" began after his death in 1584.
1) Wire Kopeck unmarked (prereform issue)
OBVERSE: an image of Ivan on horseback carrying a spear, the galloping horse, circular dotted line.
REVERSE: the 5-line legend inscribed in old cyrillic letters means: "Prince Grand Majesty of Entire Rus" ("Князь Великий Государь Всея Руси" - see the exact old cyrillic inscription on a coin here), circular dotted line.
Weight: 0.78 gram
Mint: Novgorod
Wire Kopeck unmarked, Czar Ivan IV Vasiljevich, circa 1533-1535
2) Wire Kopeck marked "А"
OBVERSE: an image of Ivan on horseback carrying a spear, mint engraver's mark "А" under the galloping horse.
REVERSE: the 5-line legend means: "Prince and Grand Majesty of Entire Rus'" ("Князь и Великий Государь Всея Руси" - see the exact old cyrillic inscription on a coin here).
Weight: 0.68 gram
Mint: Pskov
Wire Kopeck marked "А", circa 1535-1538
3) Wire Kopeck marked "ФС"
OBVERSE: an image of a crowned horseman carrying a spear, mint engraver's mark "ФС" under the galloping horse.
REVERSE: the 5-line legend means: "Grand Prince Ivan of Entire Rus" ("Князь Великий Иван Всея Руси" - see the exact old cyrillic inscription here), circular line.
Weight: 0.68 gram
Mint: Novgorod
Wire Kopeck marked "ФС", circa 1538-1547
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