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Russian Empire
Nicholas I
2 Kopeks
俄羅斯帝國
尼古拉一世
2戈比
Item number: A1672
Year: AD 1843
Material: Copper
Size: 32.6 x 32.6 x 2.2 mm
Weight: 17.95 g
Manufactured by: Ekaterinburg Mint
Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2016
This is a 2-kopek copper coin issued in AD 1843 during the reign of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.
The obverse of the coin shows significant wear, yet the appearance and details are still recognisable. The coin is surrounded by a beaded circle, with the central motif featuring a monogram exclusive to Tsar Nicholas I. The monogram consists of a stylised Russian letter “Н” (the first letter of Nicholas), topped with a crown symbolising royal authority, and beneath it, the letter “I,” representing the first.
The reverse side of the coin also features a beaded circle, with the denomination “2 КОПѢЙКИ СЕРЕБРОМЪ” (2 kopecks in silver) listed from top to bottom. Below the denomination are the year of issuance, “1843,” and the abbreviation “Е.М.” for the Ekaterinburg Mint.
The reason this copper coin is marked as a silver coin is related to the financial reforms promoted by E. F. Kankrin, the Minister of Finance appointed by Tsar Nicholas I from AD 1830 to AD 1840. After Russia introduced paper currency in AD 1769, copper coins and paper notes were the main forms of circulation. However, following the Napoleonic Wars, the paper currency issued by Russia faced inflationary pressures. In response, Kankrin pushed for the use of silver coins, and as a result, subsequent copper coins were also marked with the term “silver coin.”
In AD 1825, Nicholas I ascended to the throne as Tsar following the death of his elder brother, Alexander I. During his reign, Nicholas I vigorously suppressed liberalism and nationalist movements, particularly those represented by Poland. In AD 1853, he sought to expand Russia’s influence over the Balkans, which led to a military conflict known as the Crimean War, involving the Ottoman Empire, Britain, and France. The war ended with Russia’s defeat, and Nicholas I himself passed away before the armistice was signed.