Coins scales got their name because of the shape.Their appearance reminiscent of fish scales.Preserved until today coins are made mainly of silver, far fewer of them - from copper.There is speculation that there were gold flakes.
exact date of the appearance of the banknotes in use archaeologists and historians could not be determined, but they appeared before the Mongol-Tatar yoke.But the ending is known for their use - is the monetary reform of Peter I in 1718.Therefore, the history of scales more than a thousand years.Initially, they did not have a specific denomination.The cost of the coin scales determined by weight.Silver signs, of course, were more expensive copper.Anyway silver at the time was valued higher than now.In those days, for 1 gram of gold was given about 10 grams of silver.
production coin scales
Since the coins were important weight, the content and form of paid rather little attention.We took a piece of wire, cut into pieces, which flattened stamp.Form at the product receives an elongated, very similar to fish scales.An image with a stamp is not fully fit.Printing was set manually on the coin fell unevenly, and the content of the drawing can be judged only with some denezhek from the same manufacturer.This production technology causes no two identical products.If the wire was made of silver, it turns coin silver flake.Each prince had a mint, so the variety of products is enormous.As a rule, on the obverse bore the name of the ruler, and the reverse was applied some image: mythical beast or a rider with a spear.Despite the fact that Russia has already been baptized, the coins you can see many pagan symbols.
monetary reform Elena Glinsky
believed that the full coin scales should have a weight of 1 gram.However, during the existence of these denezhek their weight is decreasing.Late coins weigh only half a gram.Note that at the beginning of the XVI century in everyday life in Russia was very much a wide variety of bank notes.And they cut off all the time and replaces.Business deals were made with great difficulty.There is a need of reform, caused the creation of a single monetary system of the state.She had to spend Elena Glinsky - widow of Vasily III.Old money were banned, the new could only print on a mint sovereign.It introduced a new name - the penny, but in general, the coins will retain the same production technology and appearance.The people they are still called scales.Only now, in connection with the name of the Emperor of Russia, for example, a coin-scales Alexei Mikhailovich.
periodization coin scales
Ancient coins scales during its existence, has undergone many changes, which are associated with specific events and their production technology.Thus, we can define some periodization.First period - from the IX and the beginning of the XII century - characterized by the absence in Russia of production of gold, silver and copper.Widely used foreign coins, and their own made of precious metals bullion, which is regarded primarily as a commodity.At this time, it formed the monetary-weighing system of Russia.
the XII to XIV century, during the Mongol-Tatar yoke, producing their own coins was discontinued.
In the third period - from the XIV and the beginning of XVI century - chasing Russian banknotes recovered, but every feudal prince acquires its own mint.
fourth stage is directly related to the reform of Elena Glinsky: at this point, the centralization of the monetary system in Moscow.
fifth period due to changes in cash at the court of Peter I. There replacing flakes money printed on the machines.They become larger by weight, and at face value.Decimal system of measurement.
Numismatists
Since the flakes are everywhere, their value depends on how many coins on a specific market, as well as the metal from which they are made.The price for the auction has a fairly wide range from 140 to 7000 rubles.The most valuable are the coins of specific princes, because such moneys have not come across too often.And if they come across, their condition is very lamentable.It is highly sought after quarter of the money and half the money, because there are these coins is also extremely rare.Their percentage in the mined treasures is very small.
