20 kopecks in 1813, St. Petersburg-MF

A 20-kopeck silver coin ("two kopecks") minted during the reign of Emperor Alexander I. It complies with national standards for the mass minting of silver coins of medium denominations in the first quarter of the 19th century.

The silver 20 kopecks of the Alexander era were one of the most sought-after and actively circulated coins in the retail market of the empire. Due to their small size and constant presence in the hands of the population, they were subjected to intense abrasion. It is a great success to find a copy of this year that has survived to this day without critical damage and has preserved a clear date. The coin is a classic monument to the monetary circulation of Russia at the final stage of the Napoleonic Wars.

Silver (868 proof), stamped. Weight: 4.15 g. Diameter: 22.1 mm. Mint: St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg). Circulation: 1025,000 copies. General engraver: Mikhail Fedorov, Minister of Mines (initials "M F" on the obverse).

Obverse: The Small State Emblem of the Russian Empire is depicted in the center — a double-headed eagle with its wings spread out. The heads of the eagle are crowned with two small crowns, the third (large) crown with a cross is located above. The eagle holds a scepter in its right paw and a power in its left paw. The Moscow coat of arms is placed on the eagle's chest: a shield with the image of St. George the Victorious on a horse, striking a serpent with a spear. The shield is surrounded by the chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. The letters of the Mintsmaster are separately stamped under the eagle's paws: on the left — "M", on the right — "F". The date of minting is indicated under the initials in a semicircle along the edge — "1815."

Reverse: The imperial crown is located at the top of the coin. In the center, the denomination is minted in large font — the number "20", under which the name of the monetary unit "KOPEK" is indicated. A horizontal solid line is drawn below, under which the abbreviation of the St. Petersburg Mint "S.P.B." is stamped. Along the left edge there is a laurel branch, along the right - an oak branch. At the very bottom, the branches are tied with a ribbon in a bow. There is a dotted-toothed rim along the edge of both sides.

Edge: Dotted (oblique notch).

Guarantee of authenticity.

Collectible preservation (VF-). The coin has honest signs of a long and active participation in the monetary circulation of the era. The relief has been evenly smoothed out by time: the feathers of the eagle, the leaves of the wreath, the details of the large crown and the central shield with St. George the Victorious have been erased, but the silhouettes of the coat of arms and face value are fully recognizable. The circular dotted edge has been smoothed out in places. At the same time, the date "1815", the letters of the mint "M F" and the mint "S.P.B." are confidently identified. The metal has retained a pleasant noble historical appearance with slight natural darkening of the old patina in the depressions around the relief.

The year 1815 was a landmark for Russia and all of Europe — it was the year of the final overthrow of Napoleon Bonaparte on the field of Waterloo and the triumphant completion of the Foreign campaigns of the Russian army. The long military operations placed a heavy burden on the treasury, causing inflation of paper banknotes. To restore confidence in money, the government of Alexander I increased the production of high-grade 868-grade exchangeable silver. 20 kopecks of 1815 were minted under the leadership of the Minister of Mines Mikhail Fedorov, returning to the domestic retail market a stable coin equivalent in value to its European counterparts.