Obverse. Photo © Rarecoins.ru
  • 25 Kopecks 1886-1894, Y# 44, Russia, Empire, Alexander III
  • 25 Kopecks 1886-1894, Y# 44, Russia, Empire, Alexander III
  • 25 Kopecks 1886-1894, Y# 44, Russia, Empire, Alexander III, Edge
Description

Alexander III (1845-1894) was the penultimate Emperor of Russia, King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland from 1881 until his death in 1894. He was highly conservative and reversed some of the liberal reforms of his father, Alexander II. During Alexander's reign Russia fought no major wars, for which he was styled "The Peacemaker". More than six feet tall (about 1.9 m), he was also noted for his immense physical strength.

Obverse

Portrait of Alexander III. Along the rim the official short title: By the Grace of God Alexander III Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia.

The coin features a portrait of the emperor for the first time since the time of Catherine the Great (1729-1796).

Б.М. АЛЕКСАНДРЪ III ИМПЕРАТОРЪ И САМОДЕРЖЕЦЪ ВСЕРОССIЙСКIЙ

Reverse

Displays the Lesser Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire - a two-headed eagle crowned with two imperial crowns, over which the same third crown, enlarged, with two flying ends of the ribbon of the Order of Saint Andrew. The State Eagle held a scepter and globus cruciger. On the chest of the eagle there was an escutcheon with the arms of Moscow, depicting Saint George, mounted and defeating the dragon. The Lesser Coat of Arms depicts the imperial double-headed eagle with the addition of the collar of the Order of Saint Andrew around the escutcheon of St. George, and the Arms of Astrakhan, Siberia, Georgia, Finland, Kiev-Vladimir-Novgorod, Taurica, Poland and Kazan on the wings (seen clockwise).

The denomination and date are written under the eagle: 25 Kopecks 1891.

The globus cruciger (Latin, "cross-bearing orb"), also known as the orb and cross, an orb (Latin globus) topped (Latin gerere, to wear) by a cross (Latin crux), has been a Christian symbol of authority since the Middle Ages, used on coins, in iconography, and with the sceptre as royal regalia.

Order of St. Andrew was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia.

25 КОПѢЕКЪ 1891 Г.

Edge

Mint master mark: АГ (Appolon Grasgof), moneyer of the Saint Petersburg Mint (1883-1899).

The fine weight is written around the edge: "Pure silver 1 zolotnik 5,25 parts".

A zolotnik was a small Russian unit of weight, equal to 0.1505 avoirdupois ounces, or 4.2658 grams. Used from the 10th to 20th centuries, its name is derived from the Russian word zoloto, meaning gold. As a unit, the zolotnik was the standard for silver manufacture, much as the troy ounce is currently used for gold and other precious metals. This unit was originally based on a coin of the same name. The zolotnik circulated in the Kievan Rus until the 11th century; it was equal in weight to the Byzantine Empire's solidus.

ЧИСТАГО CEPEБPA 1 ЗОЛОТНИКЪ 5,25 ДOЛЕЙ (А•Г)

Characteristics
Material Silver
Fineness 0.900
Weight 5 g
Diameter 22.6 mm
Thickness 1.25 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Saint Petersburg Mint (SPMD)

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