COINS OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE

Coins of Imperial Russia (1721-1917) are the most common and most desirable finds.

👑 Imperial monograms (vensels)

The obverse of copper coins often features the ruler's monogram (cypher).

• **Peter I (П):** Interlaced Latin P's.
• **Catherine II (Е II):** An ornate letter E with the numeral II. "Katya's five-kopeck pieces" are huge copper coins (50 g).
• **Paul I (П I):** A plain, austere letter P.
• **Alexander I, II, III (А):** The letter A with the corresponding numeral.
• **Nicholas II (Н II):** The last emperor, monogram N II.

🏭 Mints (letters on the coin)

• **Е.М.** — Yekaterinburg Mint (the largest output, copper coins).
• **С.П.М.** / **С.П.Б.** — St. Petersburg Mint.
• **К.М.** — Suzun (Kolyvan) Mint (Siberian copper with traces of gold/silver, "Siberian" coinage).
• **М.М.** — Moscow Mint.
• **В.М.** — Warsaw Mint.

💰 Monetary reforms

• **Kankrin's reform (1839-1843):** Introduction of the silver monometallic standard. Coins began bearing the inscription "N kopecks in silver" (even though the coin itself was copper, its value was pegged to silver).
• **Witte's reform (1897):** The gold standard. Introduction of gold 5, 7.5, 10, and 15 ruble coins.