Obverse. Photo © Monetnik.ru
  • 1 Denga 1446-1462, Or# 625, Russia, Grand Duchy of Moscow, Vasily II the Blind
  • 1 Denga 1446-1462, Or# 625, Russia, Grand Duchy of Moscow, Vasily II the Blind
Description

Vasily Vasiliyevich (Russian: Василий Васильевич; 1415–1462), known as Vasily II the Blind (Василий II Тёмный), was the Grand Prince of Moscow whose long reign (1425–1462) was plagued by the greatest civil war of Old Russian history. At one point, Vasily was captured and blinded by his opponents, yet eventually managed to reclaim the throne. Due to his disability, he made his son, Ivan III the Great, his co-ruler in his late years.

Obverse

Saint George to the right stabs a serpent with a spear between letters K and N, surrounded by the Cyrillic inscription "Grand Prince Vasily".

The coat of arms of Moscow depicts a horseman with a spear in his hand slaying a basilisk and is identified with Saint George and the Dragon. The heraldic emblem of Moscow has been an integral part of the coat of arms of Russia since the 16th century.

+КИЯZЬВЕЛИСВАСНЕIВV
К Н

Reverse

Winged Siren with a bow to the left in the circular inscription "Lord of the whole Russian Land".

In Greek mythology, the Sirens were dangerous creatures, who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Sirens were believed to combine women and birds in various ways. In early Greek art, Sirens were represented as birds with large women's heads, bird feathers and scaly feet. Later, they were represented as female figures with the legs of birds, with or without wings, playing a variety of musical instruments, especially harps and lyres.

ОСПОДАРЬВСЕЯZЕМЛИРУСКИЯ

Edge
Characteristics
Material Silver
Weight 0.6 g
Diameter 12 mm
Thickness -
Shape -
Alignment -
Mint
Moscow Mint

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