Coinage reform in Russia, under the autocratic Nicholas I (1825–1855) in the late 1820s, was played out against a series of foreign wars and internal political upheavals.
The war between Turkey and Russia, one of an almost endless series of major and minor conflicts, had broken out in 1828 while the war with Persia raged. The Persians signed a peace treaty in early 1829 but re-entered the war when it appeared the Russians were in trouble in the Turkish phase of the conflict.
Eventually, both Turkey and Persia were decisively defeated, and St. Petersburg was able to annex considerable territory. As with all such territorial acquisitions, these were later on to cause trouble. At present, for example, the Russians under dictator Vladimir Putin are putting pressure on Armenia and Georgia…
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World Coin News (Digital) - 1 Issue, December 2024