1 ruble in 1817, St. Petersburg-PS

A common large silver coin with a face value of one ruble, minted during the reign of Emperor Alexander I. It is a classic example of mass-produced silver coinage of the early 19th century, designed to stabilize the country's domestic financial market. Alexander I's silver rubles of this type ("with the wings of an eagle raised") are iconic witnesses of the era of overcoming the consequences of the Napoleonic Wars. Due to the enormous production volumes and rapid tool wear, the stamps were regularly cut manually. This led to the appearance of many micro-varieties, highly appreciated by numismatists (in terms of the shape of the tail, crown, and the number of berries in the wreath). The presented specimen has a pleasant collectible appearance and a chiseled texture.

Silver (868 proof), stamped. Weight: 20.73 g. Diameter: 35.5 mm Mint: St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg). Circulation:11,775,000 copies (total circulation of the year for all varieties).General engraver: Pavel Stupitsyn, Master of Mines (initials "P. S." on the obverse).

Obverse: The Small State Emblem of the Russian Empire is depicted in the center — a double-headed eagle spreading its wings upward. The eagle's heads are crowned with two small crowns, the third (large) crown is located above. The eagle holds a scepter in its right paw and a power in its left paw. On the chest is a shield with the Moscow coat of arms (St. George the Victorious, striking the serpent). Under the eagle's paws are the initials of the Mintsmaster: to the left — "P", to the right — "S". There is a circular inscription "COIN" on the left along the edge, and "RUBLE" on the right. The year of minting is indicated below — "1817". The inscriptions and the date are separated by three six-pointed stars. Reverse: In the center there is a relief four-line inscription declaring the exact coin stop: "PURE / SILVER / 4 GOLD. / 21 SHARES.". A large imperial crown is placed above the inscription. The letters of the St. Petersburg Mint "S.P.B." are stamped under the horizontal dividing line. The whole composition is enclosed in a wreath of laurel (left) and oak (right) branches tied with a bow at the bottom. There is a clear dotted-toothed rim along the edge of both sides. Edge: Indented inscription: "SER. 83 1/3 OF A SAMPLE OF 4 ZOL. 82 14/25 SHARES."

Guarantee of authenticity.

Good collectible preservation (VF / VF+). The coin has retained a smooth matte field with a beautiful light gray shade. The relief of the eagle, feathers, crowns, as well as circular inscriptions and text on the reverse are perfectly readable and not erased. There is a slight natural wear and small micro-scratches, indicating the real participation of the coin in the monetary circulation of the era. No traces of soldering, rough mechanical cleaning or polishing.

In 1817, under the leadership of Finance Minister D. A. Guryev, active work was carried out to eliminate the inflationary consequences of the war of 1812-1814. The mass production of a full-fledged silver coin was a strategic task of the state to strengthen the shaky exchange rate of paper banknotes. The inscription on the reverse "Pure silver 4 spool 21 share" (exactly 18 grams of pure silver) served as the main guarantor of the reliability of the Russian currency. The decoration of the wreath also carried deep symbolism: the laurel represented the great military victory over France, and the oak — the state power, strength and steadfastness of the Russian Empire.