Coins are a great way to pay tribute to outstanding individuals. Money passes through hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of hands. This is an excellent opportunity to tell people about a feat, an achievement, about the role of an individual in the life of the state or the world as a whole. Someone will see the image for the first time and will awaken a desire to find out more about this person.
The most common portrait
I would hardly be mistaken if I assume that the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is most often featured on coins. Firstly, you need to consider how many years this great woman has occupied the English throne. Today, the Queen is the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the United Kingdom.
Secondly, the kingdom is called great for a reason. How many colonies were there under the jurisdiction of the English monarchs, many of whom still mint their portraits on their money, including on coins. In addition to Canada, Australia and other former colonies, the portrait of Elizabeth II was even on coins minted in Russia. Our country, of course, has never been a colony of England, but on the anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne, our country did not stand aside. As a sign of respect, goodwill and congratulations on our part, the Central Bank issued a series of coins made of precious metals with the image of Elizabeth II.
Communist money
The depiction of portraits of monarchs is a common and even necessary thing for the respective countries and regimes. Every subject must know his ruler. However, we all remember our common Soviet past. The emperor was replaced by leaders. Lenin's portrait was invariably used on banknotes until the decline of the Soviet Union. True, the familiar profile was not used on regularly minted coins. Lenin decorated anniversary rubles of the Soviet Union dedicated either to the anniversary of the revolution or to the anniversaries of the life of the revolutionary himself.
1 ruble 1970, 100 years of Lenin
25,00 r ub. Add to cart
430,00 r ub. - 500,00 r ub. 
3 rubles 1987, 70 years of the October Revolution
200,00 r ub. - 280,00 r ub.- Sale!
5 rubles 1987, 70 years of the October Revolution (UNC)
2300,00 r ub. Add to cart
There is a similar system in communist China. Modern Chinese banknotes depict the great helmsman - Mao Zedong. Regular coins feature the coat of arms of China. There are commemorative coins with the image of the Chinese leader, including 10 chervonets of the island of Spitsbergen.
It must be admitted that in the Soviet Union, not only Lenin was depicted on commemorative coins. We can give many examples of worthy dedications to our great compatriots - Mendeleev, Tsiolkovsky, Lermontov and others. Soviet rubles depict the Uzbek poet Navoi, the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi, the Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu and others.
110,00 r ub. - 170,00 r ub. 
130,00 r ub. - 170,00 r ub. - 145,00 r ub. - 175,00 r ub.
145,00 r ub. - 175,00 r ub.
Russian anniversary coins dedicated to outstanding personalities
In countries where the president is at the helm, things are different. State symbols are used here - usually a coat of arms. Portraits of great people appear only on commemorative coins.
The first dedications on Russian commemorative coins made of non-precious metals were to Pushkin and Gagarin. I mean the most significant part of money circulation after the reform of 1997. Then for a long time, if my memory serves me correctly, until 2012 there were no portraits on our coins. In 12, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812, a series of 2-ruble coins with images of commanders and war heroes was issued. All these coins can be purchased in our online store at low prices.
1 ruble 200th anniversary of the birth of A.S. Pushkin
450,00 r ub. - 720,00 r ub.
10 rubles 2001, 40th anniversary of Yu.A.’s space flight. Gagarin
70,00 r ub. - 920,00 r ub.
2 rubles 2001, 40th anniversary of Gagarin's space flight
80,00 r ub. - 190,00 r ub.
Set of 2 rubles, Generals
200,00 r ub. Add to cart
In addition to the above, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation usually reserves coins made of precious metals for great people. For example, this year 2018, coins dedicated to Vladimir Vysotsky, Maxim Gorky and choreographer M.I. have already been released. Petipa. The coin dedicated to Vysotsky has the following characteristics:
- Denomination: 25 rubles;
- Material: 925/1000 silver;
- Weight, g: 169;
- Diameter, mm: 60;
- Thickness, mm: 6.6;
- Circulation, pcs.: 1500.
Gorky and Petipa:
- Denomination: 2 rubles;
- Material: 925/1000 silver;
- Weight, g: 17;
- Diameter, mm: 33;
- Thickness, mm: 2.4;
- Circulation, pcs.: 3000.
All coins are made in “Proof” quality. Last year the honor was given to K.A. Ton, geographer P.P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky, artist I.K. Aivazovsky, poet K.D. Balmont, director Yu.P. Lyubimov.
I was already finishing the article when I remembered one important detail and decided to return to this moment to continue. Modern Russian change coins, called kopecks, depict St. George the Victorious. I think that it can be attributed to initiations. A horseman with a spear has been depicted on Russian coins almost from the very beginning of money circulation in Rus'. Hence the name - kopek.
Foreign dedication coins
US commemorative coins
When talking about foreign commemorative coins, the United States immediately comes to mind. The Americans have issued and continue to mint a series of coins dedicated to their presidents. The Presidential Dollar program began in 2007 and continues to this day. Interestingly, it will end when a coin with the last deceased president is issued. But according to the rules, a personalized coin can be issued no less than 2 years after the death of the president. At the moment, the last coin is dedicated to Ronald Reagan; the remaining successor presidents, including his predecessor Jimmy Carter, are alive. Accordingly, no coins are issued to them, and if none of them dies in the near future, the series will stop. In addition to presidential dollars, there are Sacagawea dollars. These coins are dedicated to indigenous peoples. The reverse features a portrait of a young Sacagawea Indian woman. A young girl in the early 19th century helped new Americans explore America and communicate with indigenous tribes.
Canadian commemorative coins
Speaking about America, one cannot help but recall Canada with its interesting monetary policy. A series of coins dedicated to the War of 1812 immediately comes to mind. However, this conflict is not related to Napoleon. This is the Anglo-American War, also called the Second War of Independence. In honor of the 200th anniversary, the Canadian Mint issued coins dedicated to the war heroes - Salaberry, Tecumseh, Brock and Secord. It is noteworthy that the coins were issued in two versions: regular and colored. On the second, the Canadian maple leaf is painted red. Not bright, but looks very nice. Another notable 1 Canadian dollar coin from 2005 is Terry Fox. This outstanding young man lost his right leg due to a tumor at the age of 19. A few years later, Terry, wearing a prosthesis, began the “Marathon of Hope” in order to raise funds and attention to the problem of cancer patients. He ran for 143 days and covered over 5 thousand kilometers. Unfortunately, his illness did not allow him to complete the marathon; he was forced to stop. 9 months later he was gone. But Terry was able to generate widespread publicity, attract press attention and raise about $24 million for cancer research.
Commemorative coins of Poland
From a thematic perspective, the Polish program is very interesting. Poles love to mint the faces of their leaders, national heroes and historical figures on their coins. Three series of Polish 2 zloty commemorative coins are dedicated to different people:
- Polish kings;
- Polish travelers and explorers;
- Polish artists of the 19th-20th centuries.
The series is quite extensive; commemorative coins have been minted since 1995. The first coin from the “Polish Kings” series was released in 1996 and is dedicated to Zygmunt II August (1520-1572). Sigismund was the first king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He managed to fight with Moscow, as a result of which he lost Polotsk, Sitno, Ezerische, and Usvyati. All except the village of Usvyati are now part of Belarus.
Unfortunately, portraits are not yet found on coins with a denomination of 5 zlotys. They are mainly dedicated to architecture, as part of the “Discover Poland” series..
Each of us, in our own way, to varying degrees, still makes history. And maybe someday someone will see fit to immortalize us on commemorative coins. Why not? Maybe this will not be a portrait performance, but a tribute to the memory of a generation, such as the annual celebration of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. This is a holiday of millions and dedicated to millions. To the millions of people who defended our freedom and right to life. Behind each “Official Celebration Emblem” are their silent faces. Of course, I hope that such trials will never befall us or our descendants again. But, I hope, if this does happen, we will be worthy of our descendants minting our portraits on coins.
It is generally accepted that the beginning of Russian statehood dates back to 882 AD, when the Novgorod prince Oleg and his retinue took the city of Kyiv. It is from this moment that the official history of our state begins. Like other countries, from the very beginning not only government bodies, but also money appeared in Rus'.
The oldest coins found in Rus' are Byzantine silver and gold coins.
On one side the coin depicted a portrait of the emperor, the other could be occupied by various images, inscriptions and the denomination of the coin. It was this type of coin that was taken as a model in Rus'. It is thanks to the Byzantines that we have such a modern type of coin in real Russia.
Epochs and rulers, coats of arms and names changed, and Russia developed and prospered, and with it the coin evolved.
The beginning of the minting of coins directly in Rus' leads us, grateful descendants, to Kievan Rus, where approximately at the end of the 10th century the “Srerenik” appears. The coin depicted the Prince of Kiev, and next to him the coat of arms of the Rurikovichs - a soaring falcon in the form of a trident.
However, a full-fledged coin production workshop never appeared in Rus' at that time. The main monetary unit was a silver bar called the hryvnia.
In the 13th century, the technology for producing money changed. Now coins began to be made from silver wire. This is where the name “Ruble”, familiar to us all, comes from the fact that the ingots were “chopped” from wire. The sizes of the ingots varied in weight and shape. Moscow and Novgorod issued their own rubles. Coins were made from rubles.
But all this was handicraft production. The first mass-produced coins in Rus' began to be made at the beginning of the 15th century in Moscow, then in the Principality of Suzdal, and then in Ryazan and Tver. The first Moscow coins depicted mainly Dmitry Donskoy, but coins with images of horsemen, warriors with weapons in their hands, and animals, both real and mythical, are often found. This was due to the fact that there was no mint as such, and coins were produced by silversmiths, whom the prince personally allowed to mint coins to replenish the coin fund. Even county princes and rich boyars minted coins this way. On the other side of the Moscow coins there was an inscription in the Tatar language. The fact is that already at that time Muscovy was actively conquering the markets of the Volga region, where the main language was Tatar, so the money was “multilingual”. This bore fruit: in the second half of the 15th century and before the inclusion of these lands into Russia, the Russian ancient coin, called “dengoy,” continued to hold leadership in the region and was an analogue of the dollar in the modern world.
As the state centralized and the internal market was created, money began to be minted only with Russian inscriptions, and the need to distribute money abroad disappeared.
The next milestone in the history of copper money in Rus' is considered to be 1534, the year when the monetary reform of Elena Glinskaya ended. Now in Rus' they began to mint money of a single state standard. The coin depicted a horseman with a spear, hence the new name - “kopek”. The kopeck became for a long time the largest coin of the Moscow kingdom.
Silver became the only material for the production of money for a long time. Many tsars tried to carry out monetary reform, copper money was also introduced, and Vasily Shuisky even issued the first gold money, but all this was a drop in the ocean and often failed. Thus, the copper riot even received a separate chapter in history and Moscow studies textbooks.
The next step in the development of Russian money was made by the reformer Tsar Peter Alekseevich Romanov, better known as Emperor Peter I. In 1704, Peter carried out a monetary reform. Silver ruble coins appear, fifty kopecks, half fifty kopecks, a ten-kopeck piece, a penny with the inscription “Ten money” and Altyn, equal to three kopecks.
Now, on one side of the royal coin, a double-headed eagle was depicted - the coat of arms of the Russian Empire, as was customary in all European countries. Since 1730, the coat of arms of the Moscow kingdom appears on the body of the eagle - St. George the Victorious.
In addition to silver, work was also carried out on copper coins. The fact is that throughout the reign of Peter I, the search for the denomination of copper coins was carried out, so copper coins of this period often changed in weight and shape.
The further development of the coin in Russia was increasing. Coins became larger in volume, more valuable in weight, the image of emperors became more clear and skillful.
With the development of the state, paper money gradually began to appear; the first appeared in the Russian Empire under Mother Empress Catherine II. The final point of coinage in the Russian Empire was 1917, the First World War, the revolution. The Russian economy of that period was characterized by the phrase of I.A. Vyshnegradsky, Russian Minister of Finance in 1887-1892, “We won’t finish eating, but we’ll take it out.”
In 1915, it got to the point that the tsarist army did not have shells and cartridges; the soldiers of some units were given axes on long sticks to repel attacks by the Germans and Austrians. In the country, the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer. This state of affairs led to the revolution in February 1917, when bourgeois circles took advantage of the situation, and to the Great October Socialist Revolution. The new government quickly realized the need for its own, new money. Soviet era coins will be discussed in another article...
I bet that you had no idea that there were SUCH unusual coins in the world))
Central Bank of the Russian Federation. A three-kilogram silver coin and a kilogram gold coin.
Canada has begun issuing a series of unusual coins.
They feature real dinosaur fossils processed using a special technology patented by the Canadian Mint. On the surface of the first moenta is carved the image of the skeleton of Duckbill Parasaurolophus. Each coin is individual.
Technical parameters of the coin: Canada, 2007, silver 9999, 1 ounce, proof, mintage 20,000 copies
Canadian coins with enamel.
Heroes of children's fairy tales, the Three Little Pigs and Sleeping Beauty became the themes of the Isle of Man coins
There is a new addition to the family of small gold coins with symbolic meaning. This time Palau releases the Shooting Star coin.
One dollar, gold 9999 0.5 grams, Diamond Uncirculated
This small (half gram) 9999 gold coin is sure to captivate. Its shape, in the form of a four-leaf clover, is supposed to attract good luck, just like the previously mentioned coin with a natural four-leaf clover leaf.
An amazing series of coins from Niue, dedicated to great artists. Real works of art! Silver 925, face value 1 dollar, year of issue 2007
Coin - illusion "Cat in the window", 4000 kwacha, Zambia 2001
Coin dedicated to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. A visit to the USA is quite unusual. Not only is it uniquely shaped like a map of the USA, it is also adorned with Swarovski crystals in the colors of the American flag. Cook Islands, 2008, $5, 999 silver, 25 g, edition of 5000, gold plated, Swarovski crystals in the colors of the flag USA, proof
Coins in the shape of the Australian continent
Among the new products of the coming 2010, the world's first coin with a three-dimensional hologram already stands out.
The coin is called "Tender Love" with the main design theme of three roses with a holographic coating.
The theme of the coins is the 175th anniversary of the publication of the first book of fairy tales by the great Hans Christian Andersen.
Samoa, 2010, 10 dollars, 925 silver, 25 g, diameter 38.61 mm, proof, edition of 2500 copies,
Titanium two-color coins. The British Virgin Islands have issued coins that, in addition to using a high-tech and unusual material - titanium, use its two oxides - gold and blue. The coins have different colors on the reverse and obverse.
Coins with inserts of precious and semi-precious stones
Square coins of Turkey
Oval coins "Flowers of Turkey"
100 Austrian schillings. Silver 900, inlay - titanium
Chinese fan-shaped coins. Series "Chinese calendar", Gold, Silver 999
"Miss You" Coin. Silver, enamel, Swarovski crystal
Australia, 2006, silver coin with capsule containing miniature replicas of six coins that were the means of payment before the introduction of decimal currency in Australia
The first coin from a series about the outstanding sculptures of the world with an insert of a miniature sculpture made of real marble
Coin with sound! "I'm proud to be a Berliner!" - when you press the button, the coin reproduces the historical phrase of John Kennedy.
Crystal Silver Coin
Cook Islands, for the 80th anniversary of Benedict XVI, 2007, denomination 5 dollars, silver 925, 25 g, gold plated - gold 999, Swarovski crystals
Coin in memory of John Paul II in the form of a cross with black Swarovski crystals, silver, gold plated Continuing the relay of commemoration of John Paul II, the government of Liberia has issued a very unusual coin. The coin is completely black except for the gold bas-relief of the Pope.
Transformable coin "Sundial" and coin-compass
Set of four coins. The reverses of the coins together spell out the word "Cook". The circulation is 1779 sets i.e. year in which Cook was killed by natives in Hawaii
Illusion coin. A woman hiding in autumn leaves. Palau, 2008, 5 dollars, 925 silver
Coin with inserts of elements of a real meteorite. 925 silver, palladium plated
Continuation of the series of coins with inserts of elements of real meteorites. Martian meteorite. Cook Islands, 2009, 5 dollars, 925 silver, 25 g, diameter 38.61 mm, antique plating, copper plating, edition of 2500 copies,
A unique set dedicated to the main milestones in space exploration. The set, housed in a metal “astronaut” case made of aluminum, includes five coins and a capsule with a lunar meteorite particle.
The world's first coin in the shape of a pyramid with a capsule containing sand from the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, discovered in the Valley of the Pharaohs by the famous English archaeologist Carter in 1922
A unique coin with a thermal image. In its original state, the coin has a uniform red color. When you heat the coin with your hands, an image of a chicken appears
Cook Islands, Egyptian pyramids. Transformer coin. The insert can be installed vertically on the coin
Sierra Leone, $75. 24 karat gold, purple niobium.
Modern coins of Hungary
Two-color niobium coin
Unique spinning top coin
Marine calendar for 50 years.
Palau, 2009, $5, 999 Silver. Braille, raised dots on the coin spell out "2009".
Coin with a butterfly design
4 triangular coins arranged like a puzzle
The Central Bank of Congo has released three coins dedicated to the biblical story of the Three Wise Men bearing gifts to the newborn Jesus. These coins are unusual in that each of them has inserts corresponding to these gifts: gold, myrrh and frankincense.
A stunningly unusual coin issued in Niue. When you press the coin, the built-in light comes on, repeating the forum of the first incandescent electric lamp invented by Edison.
Coin with a built-in light source "Edison", face value $1, minted 2005, PROOF, mintage 2500, silver.925, weight 38.61
Coin with concave relief
"Commonwealth Games", three-metal coin: gold, silver, copper.
An unusual turquoise titanium coin commemorating the world's first misprint on a Western Australian postage stamp in 1855
Canadian coins with hologram
Coins with horse designs
For the upcoming year of the Tiger according to the eastern calendar, Liberya has released a set of colored rectangular coins. 4 coins, each: 5 dollars, silver 99.9, 20 g, size 56*25 mm, proof, circulation 8000 copies,
This coin is an amazing gift to remember your vacation! She smells like the sea!
A coin with the heavenly smell of the sea!
Palau, 2010, 5 dollars, 925 silver, 25 g, diameter 38.61 mm, proof, 2500 copies
Silver coin with a gold rectangular insert.
Series "Dangerous Animals" Tuvalu, 1 dollar, 999 silver
A coin that combines beauty, history, symbolism, and Orthodoxy. Icon of the Kazan Mother of God. Cook Islands, 2009, 5 dollars, silver 999, 25 g, size 30*38 mm, proof, edition 2500 copies,
Another case of using wood in the production of a coin.
Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. Art by Andrey Rublev. A unique coin with a removable wooden icon plate. Cook Islands, 2008, $5, 999 silver, 25 g, size 30/38 mm, edition of 2500 copies, proof
Like the original, the icon of the Holy Trinity, and its embodiment in silver, evoke admiration for its polished beauty.
Cook Islands coin, 2010, 5 dollars, silver 999, 25 g, size 30*38 mm, proof, mintage only 2500. This coin will become a rarity in many ways.
Coin with a capsule containing holy water from the source of Lourdes.
Coin with carbon insert from a real Formula 1 car - Ferrari F2008. Cook Islands, 2009, $5, 500 silver, 25 g, diameter 38.61 mm, proof,
The Cook Islands have released a set of coins that can be called the smallest in the world. Three 999 silver and gold coins weigh 0.12 grams each
Australia has released a series of coins-amulet "Fortune". "Longevity". "Success". "Wealth".
Series of coins "Mythological Chinese characters". Australia 2009, 1 Australian Dollar, 99.9 Silver, 1 oz, size 47.60 x 27.40, 4mm thick, color image, coin comes in a bright booklet.
Today I present two stunning amber coins, true works of art
Australia gave collectors a stunning gift for the New Year. Two new loose gem coins in a clear capsule now contain diamonds from Kimberley. The coin was issued in silver and gold, with proof quality.
And a little humor: the largest wooden monument to the ruble was cut out and installed in Russia. He appeared on June 10, 2008 in the city of Tomsk. A wooden ruble weighing 250 kilograms and measuring more than two meters was installed on one of the squares for a traditional city event - the Tomsk Carnival. The wooden ruble is made in a realistic manner on a scale of 1:100. The festival organizers have already submitted an application to have the wooden ruble included in the Guinness Book of Records.
An elegant and meaningful coin issued by Nauru - Guardian Angel
Canadian designers decided that single-color coins were a relic of the past, and created a series of unusual colored coins with holograms. This is a step into the future.
But the designers who worked on the image of Turkish coins decided that the main thing is not the color, but the shape, so their one-color coins are cut in the shape of squares and ovals with nice embossing on both sides.
Coins made of gold and silver, made in the shape of a fan, so popular in China. They belong to the "Chinese Calendar" series, each packaged in a separate box and then in a case.
And in Belarus, fans of the work of Alexandre Dumas will be able to find something to their liking. Namely, a series of souvenir coins based on The Three Musketeers. Thus, four silver coins depict four inseparable friends, each has a zirconium of a certain color attached to his sword, and behind his back is an enamel painting depicting what was dear to each of them. Interestingly, the set is packaged in a special book-shaped case. Certificate included.
New Zealand has its own favorite books. So, everyone knows that Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy was filmed mainly in New Zealand, so the state decided to skim off all the cream that it could from this fact. Therefore, a series of souvenir coins was issued depicting the main characters of this trilogy. Both silver and gold coins were minted.
But Somali souvenir coins can hardly even be called coins. Souvenirs - that's all...
The same applies to coins made in the Congo. Both the wooden ones, issued with a slogan in defense of animals, and the silver ones, with inserts of gold, incense and myrrh, which symbolize the gifts brought to little Jesus by the three wise men.
Islands are small planets, separate worlds with their own laws and regulations, thinking and way of life. This is exactly what you think when looking at the amazingly unusual coins issued on the islands.
From here: 1, 2
The double-headed eagle is one of the most ancient heraldic symbols. It was originally used in the Hittite kingdom, which existed in Asia Minor in the second millennium BC. In the 6th century BC. The image of a double-headed eagle can be traced in Media, located east of the former state of the Hittites.
At the end of the 14th century, the golden double-headed eagle became the state symbol of the Byzantine Empire, which inherited it from the Roman Empire. The majestic bird, looking simultaneously to the west and east, began to personify the unity of Europe and Asia. Another version explains the symbolic meaning of an eagle with two heads as a constant combat readiness to repel enemy raids from both sides.
The reasons for the appearance of the double-headed eagle on Russian soil are not fully understood. It is only known that this symbol appeared as a state heraldic sign under Ivan III, who united the Tver, Yaroslavl, Perm and Novgorod lands around the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Around the same years, Rus' finally got rid of oppression from the Golden Horde and began to develop ties with European states.
Having united the lands, Ivan III Vasilyevich turned from the Grand Duke into the Tsar of Moscow and took the Byzantine princess Sophia Paleologus as his wife. Perhaps the desire to emphasize his equality with European rulers prompted Ivan III to adopt the double-headed eagle as a heraldic symbol.
The princely seal of 1497 is widely known, with a horseman depicted on the front side and a double-headed eagle on the back. Then the Russian double-headed eagle begins to be used everywhere: in the manufacture of weapons, on banners, engravings, court items and, of course, on coins. Over the course of 500 years, the eagle was changed many times and supplemented with various heraldic elements. Accordingly, on Russian coins the double-headed eagle also changed.
On coins there are a variety of variants of the state eagle, including under one, two or three crowns, with and without a scepter, with or without an orb, with the image of monograms, the St. Andrew's cross and even a unicorn.
Under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, on the ruble of 1654 (the so-called “efimka”), a double-headed eagle is depicted under one crown:
After 1654, the eagle began to be depicted with raised wings. A double-headed eagle under three crowns with a scepter and an orb in its claws is depicted on silver coins of 1699-1729, and on copper coins of 1700-1755. release.
From 1710, they began to depict the heraldic imperial crown, although there were still 11 years left before Peter I assumed the title of emperor. This change can also be seen on the regimental banners of 1712.
A double-headed eagle under three crowns, with a scepter and orb in its claws, as well as with St. George on the chest and the badge of the Order of St. Andrew is minted on:
- gold coins 1701-1796
- silver coins 1730-1796 and 1801-1826.
- copper coins 1758-1796 and 1801-1830.
For the first time, a chain with the sign of the Order of St. Andrew is depicted on the trial half of 1699. This was the first example of the order's insignia in the form of a St. Andrew's cross with three eagles, which was later changed to the generally accepted pattern in the form of a double-headed eagle with a St. Andrew's cross on the chest.
Sometimes unconventional images were placed on the eagle’s chest:
- coats of arms of Riga and Revel on coins for the Baltic states;
- the united coats of arms of Russia and Schleswig-Holstein on the occasion of the proclamation of Duke Peter as heir to the Russian throne;
- shield with minting date;
- a shield with the coat of arms of the principality of Iever, which reminded that Paul I had the title of Prince of Iever;
- coat of arms of Poland.
A special type of state eagle under one crown, without a scepter and orb, is depicted on gold coins of 1817-1831, silver 1826-1831, copper 1827 and 1830-1839. This eagle pattern was popular in Russian military heraldry, especially on banners and standards.
Simultaneously with the above-described eagle, in the first half of the 19th century, another type of double-headed eagle was used in Russian heraldry - with raised wings, under 3 crowns, with St. George, the chain of the Order of St. Andrew, with a scepter and orb in its paws and titular coats of arms on the wings. Such an eagle is depicted on the state seal and on platinum, gold and silver banknotes of 1832-1858, and copper coins of 1849-1858. and on all coins with a double denomination (in Russian and Polish).
An example of a silver coin of Nicholas I from 1954:
In 1856, during the heraldic reform, which was carried out under the leadership of Baron Bernhard Vasilyevich Kene, a new type of state eagle was introduced in Russia, found on all coins of 1859-1917.
An example of a 1 ruble coin of Nicholas II issued in 1897:
In 1917, for the seal of the Provisional Government, the artist I. Bilibin made a drawing of the state eagle, which was based on the image of an eagle from the seal of Grand Duke Ivan III. This image can be seen on coins of 1917-1918.
The same eagle was repeated on coins issued in 1992 by the Central Bank of Russia:
Based on materials by G. Vilinbakhov (State Hermitage Museum).
Coins have their own history and a certain value. They have been collectibles for centuries. Despite this, many do not know what this or that side of the coin is called.
Obverse and reverse
Main sides of coins
Any coin has three surfaces, which have their own names:
- Obverse. This is the main side of the coin. The obverse depicted portraits of heads of state, coat of arms, emblems, an inscription with the name of the country, colony, territory with the name of the bank. In the modern world, the obverse depicts a legend that determines nationality. For example, the front side of the USSR coin featured the state emblem. At this time, coins often changed their appearance. On commemorative coins it is more difficult to determine the obverse, since the coat of arms was not always depicted there. In this case, you need to look for the side with the main images.
- Reverse. Reverse side of the coin. It shows the denomination of the coin, the hallmark. This side carries proprietary information. Collectible or commemorative coins depicted the characters for whom they were issued.
- Edge. This is what the edge of a coin is called. In ancient times, scammers sawed off the edge for profit, so they began to mark the side of the coin.
The side of the edge may be different:
- Smooth.
- With an inscription. Royal coins were issued with raised inscriptions, while modern coins were issued with depressed inscriptions. This may be an inscription of the denomination in words.
- Mesh. Lines similar to a grid were applied to the edge. Used in the 18th century.
- Intermittently serrated. This is a common option for modern coins. Notches are depicted on the edge, alternating them with a smooth surface.
- With notches. In our time, these are relief notches, and coins of the 18th century had notches located at an angle.
- With patterns. In the 18th century, patterns, ornaments, dots, and lines were depicted on the edge. Coins of Catherine II, Alexander II, and Nicholas I had such an edge.
- With a cutout in the center. Coins of Australia and India have such a cutout.
- Combined.
Nowadays, even precious stones can be applied to the edge; lamps that glow when you press the edge; pieces of meteorites that fell to the ground; pyramids; calendars.
Obverse and reverse of the coin
There is also a concept - a coin field - it is the area of \u200b\u200bone side of the coin, framed by notches. In ancient times, fields and coins were different, since the surface was made wider, it extended beyond the diameter of the stamp.
Examples of coin side design
In tsarist times, it was possible to confuse the reverse and obverse. In order to determine the side correctly, the most important element for the state was calculated - this was the stamp side of the coin. In ancient times, the sides were divided into spears and tails.
Obverse, reverse and edge of the coin
During the reign of Peter I, a double-headed eagle was depicted on the coin, which is where the familiar names “heads” and “tails” came from. The name “tails” appeared because the royal initials were depicted on the coin in the form of patterns or a sieve. Here, “heads” is the obverse, and “tails” is the reverse side of the coin, and its denomination is also indicated on it. The sides of coins always have different images.
The obverse of a modern Russian coin depicts the bank's coat of arms and inscription, and the denomination is indicated on the reverse. Coins have a purpose and are valuable.
Each side of the coin has its own purpose. The front side of the coin or obverse describes the important elements of the state, the reverse - the denominations, and the edge has a protective function. Each side has its own role, so you shouldn’t confuse them. By the images on the sides of the coins, you can determine whether they are valuable, collectible, commemorative, or rare coins, as well as find out their history.
