Stalinist numismatics: Second Edition. Supplemented and revised

Уже прошло свыше 70 лет со дня смерти человека навсегда записавшегося в мировую историю, товарища Иосифа Виссарионовича Сталина. Его личность и события связанные с ним и до сих пор вызывают вопросы, с ними часто появляется много мифов, домыслов, легенд, и порой уже практически невозможно разобраться, где правда, а где вымысел.

Сталину во многом приписывают так называемый «культ личности» вождя народов, который проявился во многих аспектах советского быта и культуры. Иосифа Виссарионовича можно встретить на много численных плакатах, бюстах и в медальном деле. Но был ли он на монетах? Вопрос интересный и достаточно запутанный, с которым ми и попробуем разобраться.

=======

Depicting rulers on coins has been known since the times of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. The image of the ruler on coins had a political meaning - the appearance of money with a new portrait notified the inhabitants of the province about the change of the emperor. The portrait was minted on the obverse, and on the reverse the ruler ordered to depict his victorious accomplishments. Before the appearance of their own coins in Russia had circulation Byzantine coins with the portrait of the Emperor on the obverse. It was they were taken as a model for the minting of the first Russian coins. At the turn of the X-XI centuries. in Kiev, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich began minting zlatnikov and silver coins with his conventional image, which does not have any portrait resemblance. But soon minted coins were supplanted by hryvnas - ingots of silver. Coinage in Russia reached a new level after the monetary reforms of Peter I in 1694-1704. The outdated monetary system of the Russian kingdom needed reorganization. The equipment of mints was renewed, masters, including medaliers, were sent from Europe. Starting from this time, the portrait of the monarch was placed on Russian coins of large denominations. Coinage was developing, and portraits became more and more skillful and detailed. Under Catherine II, a medallic class was established at the Imperial Academy of Arts. The tradition of portrait coins was broken by Paul I, who in 1796 refused to place his portrait, replacing it with a motto. There is a version that the emperor's decision was influenced by the fate of French King Louis XVI. After the outbreak of the French Revolution, the king tried to flee from Paris to Belgium, but at one of the stops he was allegedly identified by his portrait on a gold louis. The king was arrested and subsequently executed. Again the portrait of the monarch on the obverse appeared only 90 years later, in the reign of Alexander III. More tradition was not interrupted until the October Revolution. In the Soviet Union, portraits of famous people began to be depicted on commemorative series in 1965. The tradition of portrait coinage continues today, especially in countries with monarchical regimes.

More than 70 years have already passed since the death of the man forever recorded in world history, Comrade Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin. His personality and events associated with him and still raise questions, they often appear a lot of myths, speculation, legends, and sometimes it is almost impossible to understand where the truth and where fiction.

Stalin is largely attributed to the so-called “cult of personality” of the leader of the peoples, which manifested itself in many aspects of Soviet life and culture. Joseph Vissarionovich can be found on many numerical posters, busts, and medals. But was he on coins? The question is interesting and rather confusing, which we will try to deal with.