"Mordovka" - Central Volga Imitation of Russian kopeck Horseman / 5-lines text

"Mordovka" - Central Volga Imitation of Russian kopeck (Horseman / 5-lines text) - obverse"Mordovka" - Central Volga Imitation of Russian kopeck (Horseman / 5-lines text) - reverse

© Cuthwellis

Features

Location Russian Empire
Type Proto-coin › Proto-coin
Years 1535-1800
Composition Billon
Weight 0.52 g
Diameter 12 mm
Thickness 1 mm
Shape Round (irregular)
Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
199310

Obverse

Horseman galloping right, holding spear, within dotted border.

Reverse

Imitation of Cyrillic inscription

Script: Cyrillic

Edge

Plain

Comments

Mordovka - common term meaning imitations of wire and early Russian coins (less often, Golden Horde or other coins) minted by the non-Russian people in Mid-Volga region during, according to different researches, XV-XIX centuries.

Researchers made various assumptions about the usage of Mordovkas as local coins or even as an official currency of Khanate of Kazan, but it is still unproven. Modern view is that they we used:
  • as clothes decoration (usually smaller holed types);
  • for religious rituals purposes (usually non-holed types).

This type was (most probably) used as a cheap substitute of coins for sacrificing to local Gods.

See also

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Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
ND (1535-1800) 

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