1738 Russian Empire Silver Rouble NGC UNC Details

This is a silver ruble of the Russian Empire dated 1738, issued under Empress Anna Ioannovna and graded NGC UNC Details with the notation “REV SPOT REMOVED.” The obverse displays a right-facing bust of the empress with an elaborate coiffure featuring pearls, draped and adorned shoulders, and a detailed facial profile, all enclosed by the Cyrillic legend “Б•М• АННА ІМПЕРАТРИЦА І САМОДЕРЖИЦА ВСЕРОСІЙСКАЯ” (“By the Grace of God, Anna, Empress and Autocrat of All Russia”). The reverse shows the imperial double-headed eagle with three crowns, scepter, and orb, the Moscow arms (St. George slaying the dragon) on its breast within the chain of the Order of St. Andrew, the date 1738 above the central crown, and the surrounding legend “МОНЕТА РУБЛЬ.” In terms of condition, the coin retains sharp, high-relief details and areas of original mint luster consistent with an uncirculated state, but it exhibits mottled toning, residual discoloration, and surface marks—particularly on the reverse where a spot was professionally or otherwise removed—resulting in the “Details” designation rather than a numeric Mint State grade.

Struck during the reign of Anna Ioannovna (1730–1740), niece of Peter the Great, this ruble belongs to the standardized silver coinage system that continued Peter’s monetary reforms. Anna’s decade on the throne was dominated by the influence of her favorite Ernst Johann von Biron, ongoing Western-oriented policies, and military engagements including the War of the Polish Succession and the Russo-Turkish War of 1735–1739; the year 1738 itself saw cultural milestones such as the founding of Russia’s first ballet school. These large silver rubles circulated as the principal high-value coin of the empire and reflect the consolidation of imperial iconography and minting standards in the post-Petrine era.