Poltina 1816, St. Petersburg-PS

A large silver coin worth half a ruble (50 kopecks), minted during the reign of Emperor Alexander I. Meets the standards of mass minting of large silver of the late Classicism era. Half the size of Alexander I of this sample ("with an eagle with raised wings") along with rubles, they formed the basis of the empire's metal circulation. Due to the active circulation on the market and the high demand among the population, these coins were heavily worn out, so it is a great success for a collector to find a copy with fully readable inscriptions and details of the wreath. The presented coin is an honest, authentic witness to the post-war era with a pleasant historical appearance.

Silver (833 or 868 samples), stamped. Weight 10.37 g. Diameter 28.5 mm. Mint: St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg). Circulation 2,110,000 copies (total circulation of the year) General engraver: Mintsmaster Pavel Stupitsyn (initials "P. S." on the obverse).

Obverse: The Small State Emblem of the Russian Empire is depicted in the center — a double-headed eagle with wings raised up. On the heads of the eagle are two small crowns, above them is one large crown topped with a cross. The eagle holds a scepter in its right paw and a power in its left paw. On the eagle's chest is the coat of arms of Moscow: a shield depicting St. George the Victorious on horseback striking a dragon with a spear. The initials of the mintsmaster are separately stamped under the eagle's paws: on the left — "P", on the right — "S". There is a divided inscription along the edge along the circumference: on the left — "COIN", on the right — "HALF A COIN". The year of minting is indicated below — "1816". The inscriptions and the date are separated by three stars. Reverse: In the center of the field there is a relief four-line inscription declaring the exact coin stop: "PURE / SILVER / 2 GOLD. / 10½ SHARES.". A large imperial crown is placed above the text. The letters of the St. Petersburg Mint "S.P.B." are embossed under the horizontal dividing line. The composition is surrounded by a wreath of laurel (left) and oak (right) branches, which are tied with a ribbon in a magnificent bow at the bottom. There is a jagged rim along the edge of both sides. Edge: Indented inscription (or cord-shaped notch, depending on the original subtype).

Guarantee of authenticity.

The issue of halfpennes in 1816 was carried out in the conditions of economic recovery after the devastating Patriotic War of 1812. A full-fledged silver coin was the main stabilizer of the domestic market against the background of the depreciation of paper banknotes. The weight inscription on the reverse informs that the coin contains 2 spools and 10.5 fractions of pure silver (in the metric system — exactly 9 grams). The combination of the laurel (a symbol of military glory for the victory over Napoleon Bonaparte) and the oak (a symbol of civil power and the firmness of the state) was the traditional ideological concept of coinage of this period.