World Silver - 1720 (No Date) Russia Rouble, Peter I (the Great) NGC MS64

Peter traveled extensively throughout Western Europe in order to reform and modernize Russia. Since such reforms required considerable resources, he reformed the monetary system of Russia. Peter began with a devaluation. He replaced silver "wire" kopeks, which were produced by striking an irregular piece of silver with hammered dies with less expensive copper coins, employing a new technology. He brought European minting technology to the Russian empire and had minting equipment set up at the Moscow mint. The year 1725 saw Peter open a new mint in the capital of St. Petersburg. New and old coins circulated side by side for around twenty years, familiarizing the Russian citizenry with the equality of these coins and to the idea of using copper coinage.