Gold, silver and copper coins of Catherine 2. Photos and value
Different museums and collectors-numismatists dreamCatherine II, which is a kind of thread that connects us with the far time when this great empress was on the throne, was able to get into her collection. During her reign, reforms and transformations affected all spheres of life, which led to the flowering of science and art. Significant changes also affected the coinage of money. The Empress always kept under special control issues related to the issue of new gold, silver and copper coins. Until now, many unique copies of coins of that time have come down. Some of them are in excellent condition and are of great value, being a source of pride and admiration for numismatists from all over the world.
Gold coins of Catherine 2
They are certainly among the mostvaluable. Most gold coins were minted at the mint in St. Petersburg. Historians have information about the issuance of these banknotes of the next denomination: 2, 5, 10 rubles, 1 ruble, chervonets, poltina.
The golden coins of Catherine II were not used by ordinary people, but were distributed exclusively within the yard.
If to speak about cost, ten-ruble coins are the most expensive. The cost of some copies can reach 200 thousand dollars.
Coins made of silver
Silver coins of Catherine 2 (photo, below) were widely distributed. The mints coined them in large quantities. It is known about the existence at that time of 10, 20, 15 kopecks, half-cotton, half-ruble, ruble, made of silver. The obverse adorned the profile of the bust of Catherine II, also available on the gold coins described above. Only on the ruble of 1775 was depicted another portrait of the Empress executed by V. Klimov.
Siberian coin: 10 kopecks
This copper coin is strikingly different from itselfsimilar. Its peculiarity lies primarily in the quality of the copper from which it was made. It was mined at the Kolyvan mine, but in the copper found there were admixtures of gold and silver. At that time, it was not possible to extract these impurities from the base metal. Such copper had its own abbreviation - CM. The release of these 10-penny coins was carried out from 1766 to 1781, until all deposits were depleted in the Kolyvan mine.
Siberian 10 kopecks were distributed only toits territory. On one side was an image of the emblem of Siberia (two sables near the shield). To date, the cost of copper Siberian coins varies from 100 to 600 dollars.
Sestroretsk Ruble
Such coins of Catherine 2, as Sestroretsk rubleswere minted for the purpose of securing paper banknotes. Their production was started in 1770. The weight of a coin with a nominal value of one ruble was 1 kg, and these banknotes were made at the Sestroretsk arms factory. The material for the manufacture of coins was the copper trunks of the old weapons. When Catherine II issued a decree on the production of such coins, she did not even suspect how long the process of grinding and creating blanks would be long and laborious. When it became clear, the unusual idea had to be abandoned. But the surviving test specimens have survived to this day. The cost of the Sestroretsk ruble can reach 50 thousand dollars.
There are other varieties of Catherine's coins2, who keep the memory of the time of the reign of this great empress. With their features, individual design and an unusual history of origin, they give an idea of life in those distant times.
