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 In
1822 Constantine, the second oldest brother of the childless
Czar Alexander I, renounced his right to the
Russian throne, and Alexander I designated his next oldest
brother, Nikolai Pavlovich, as Czarevich. In December of
1825, hearing the news of Alexander’s death, the
two brothers, Nicholas and Constantine, each independently
swore allegiance to the other as the new Czar. In the prevailing
confusion, partisans of a more liberal regime (the Decembrists),
launched a poorly coordinated rebellion in favor of Constantine,
who they thought would be more progressive. Nicholas was
promptly installed as Czar and quickly suppressed the rebellion.
The
thirty-year series of rubles and the eight-year
series of 1 ½ ruble
pieces of Nicholas I offer many interesting features.
The regular coinage, which appears at first glance
to be rather monotonous, reflects several new technological
developments. The bilingual 1 ½ ruble/10 zloty coin
(in Russian and Polish) is a numismatic reflection of Russia’s
effort over the years to move towards a practical and more
realistic consideration in Russo-Polish monetary and economic
affairs. On the other hand, Nicholas I, a man of principle
opposed to anything showy in his empire’s currency,
paradoxically found himself sponsoring more celebrative
and commemorative coins than any previous Russian sovereign,
achieving a record matched only be the last Czar, Nicholas
II.
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A
profoundly original phenomenon was the striking by the
Russian state of new platinum coins
with the value of 3, 6 and 12 rubles from 1828 to 1845.
Russia is the only country in the world that struck platinum
coins for circulation. Shown is a 12 rubles piece, 1830,
with an inscription proclaiming this coin to be composed
of nine parts gold and sixty-eight parts of “pure
Urals platinum”.
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.265 |
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1833
Imperial Russian coin used in the Polish lands under
Czarist control – a
1 ½ rubles piece/ 10 Polish zlotys.
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Bequest of Edward A. Bowers
2001.87.262 |
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2001.87.274
2001.87.274
2001.87.267
2001.87.267
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Two
silver coins, 1834 1½ ruble piece and 1 ruble
piece, also from 1834. The 1½ rubles coin commemorates
the Battle of Borodino, 1812, against Napoleon.
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.274
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.267
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6
rubles, platinum, from 1830
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.263
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1828
3 rubles, platinum.
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.264
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1827
1 ruble piece – mixed gold and silver.
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.266
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| Copper and silver coins in various denominations |
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5
kopecks
Collection
of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.268
View |
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5 kopecks
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
2001.87.233
View |
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3 kopecks
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.234
View |
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2 kopecks
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.235
View |
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1 kopeck
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Bequest of Edward A. Bowers
2001.87.270
View |
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1 kopeck
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Bequest of Edward A. Bowers
2001.87.271
View |
| Copper
and silver coins in various denominations |
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1 kopeck
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.237
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½ kopeck
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.269
View
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½ kopeck
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.238
View
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½ kopeck
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.239
View
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¼ kopeck
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.273
View
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¼ kopeck
Collection of Coins and Medals
Yale University Art Gallery
Gift of Rev. William H. Owen
2001.87.241
View
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