1738-СПБ Russian Empire Silver Rouble NGC AU-58 St.Petersburg Mint

This is a silver ruble of the Russian Empire dated 1738 from the St. Petersburg mint (СПБ / CNB), graded NGC AU 58. The obverse features a right-facing bust of Empress Anna Ioannovna wearing a small crown, with an elaborate curled hairstyle, draped and ornamented shoulders, and the full Cyrillic legend “БМ АННА ІМПЕРАТРИЦА І САМОДЕРЖИЦА ВСЕРОСІЙСКАЯ” surrounding the portrait, with the mintmark СПБ visible at the bottom. The reverse displays the crowned double-headed imperial eagle holding a scepter and orb, the Moscow arms on its breast, the date 1738 above the central crown, and the legend “МОНЕТА РУБЛЬ” around the design. In condition, the coin shows sharp details with only the lightest friction on the highest points of the bust and eagle, attractive original luster beneath even toning, and minimal marks, fully consistent with a high About Uncirculated grade. NGC has graded 85 coins overall, with 13 in this grade and 24 finer; highest is MS-64.

Issued under Empress Anna Ioannovna (1730–1740), this St. Petersburg minting reflects the expansion of imperial coin production beyond Moscow following the earlier reforms of Peter the Great. Anna’s reign continued the Westernizing policies of her uncle while being heavily shaped by her favorite Ernst Johann von Biron; the year 1738 fell amid Russia’s involvement in the Russo-Turkish War and cultural initiatives such as the establishment of the country’s first ballet school. These large silver rubles served as the principal high-value circulating coin of the empire and helped standardize Russia’s monetary system during a period of growing imperial ambition and administrative centralization.