I thought it is better to create a new thread for coins of the Kievan Rus, rather than showing them under the one coin of Podolsk. So again: Grand Prince Vladimir I (the great or the saint). AD 980-1015 Vladimir is considered the founder of the Russian state. In 988 he converted the Kievan Rus to Christianity, famously choosing between Catholicism, Islam and Greek Orthodoxy. Typ III (A.I. Rublev V.3.1.2.3.2) The legend is hardly visible on this coin, but it reads: Obv.: VLADIMIR I STOL (Vladimir on the throne) Rev.: A SE EGO SREBRO (and this is his silver) Note: The reverse shows the personal tamga or sign of Vladimir, which is part of modern Ukraine's state emblem. Measurements: 2.98g, 26mm, 12h Type II (A.I. Rublev V.2.1.1.1.4). Measurements: 2.47g, 27mm, 12h Obv.: ...ASRL Rev.: A SE EGISREBRO These coins are based on Byzantine examples. They are very rare, especially in reasonable good condition. Very often these coins are fractured. If anybody here has an example, I would like to see it.
Here is another example from my collection. Type II, A.I. Rublev V. 2.4.1.2.1. page 212 (this coin) Found: Chernigov Oblast before 2013 Measurements: 2.86 gr., 26mm
I've never seen these but I like them. Clearly based off of Byzantine designs. I love that the tamga is the same that you see in today's Ukrainian coat of arms. History meets modern day!
Do you, or anybody reading this, know if there is any part of the Ukraine that issued coins in Ancient times, perhaps a Greek colony or a Roman provincial coin?
Very nice looking coins. As a university student I had a Ukrainian professor. I'll bet he would have loved seeing this coin.
In the Greco-Roman period, the focus was not on the northern region around Kiev but on the Black Sea coast in the south. Chersonessos, Panticapaeum and Phanagoria all issued coins. Celtic coins are found in the extreme west near Moldova. Roman provincial coins were issued by client-kings for Bosporos on the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea from the Sea of Azov. Eventually a Roman/ Byzantine imperial mint was established at Cherson. Roman denarii turn up in Ukraine as do imitations, attributed by some to the Goths. https://www.museum.com.ua/en/fondu/history.html
Not only did Cherson in Crimea issue ancient coins as mentioned above, but so did Panticipaeum (now "Kerch") in Crimea which was formerly in Ukraine until 2014 when Crimea was annexed by Russia. There are 5th-2nd C BC coins from the city: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Pan/Pan.html and later 1st-4th C AD coins from "The Kingdom of the Bosporus": http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Bosporus/ often with the ruler on one side and the current Roman emperor on the other.
Tyras and Nikonion minted for some Skythian warlords. There were different medieval polities that minted in the Crimean Peninsula -- at Caffa for the Genoese Gazaria and at Krim for the Khanate of Crimea.
Dirk, Those are fascinating coins & historically important . You couldn't have picked a better time to post them .
The only two I have to show Bosporan kingdom - Sauromates II & Septimius Severus, electrum stater Bosporan kingdom - Rhescuporis II & Caracalla, electrum stater Q
Here is another Srebrenik of the Kievan Rus. These coins often come with incomplete flans. This is again Grand Prince Vladimir I. Type II, A.I. Rublev V.2.1.1.3.2 The tamga (personal sign) of Vladimir is nicely visible on this coin.
This is another variety of Typ III, A.I. Rublev V.3.3.1.1.1. Not a pretty coin, but still a good condition for these issues. The obverse shows Vladimir sitting on the throne holding a cross.
Not a beauty either, but this is a Srebrenik of Grand Prince Svyatopolk I, who ruled after his father Vladimir from 1015 to 1019. Svyatopolk was particularly ruthless, even by medieval standards. He had several of his brothers murdered, which earned him the nickname Svyatopolk the Accursed. How do I know that this coin was struck under Svyatopolk? The reverse shows his personal tamga.
This coin predates the reign of Vladimir I. It is a Russian or Kievan Rus imitation of a a Dirham of Abbasid Al-Mutarakkil, Baghdad AD 848/849 The coin may have been struck during the reign of Prince Oleg (879-912) or Prince Igor (912-945). The coin was found at: Ukraine, Sumy Oblast, Krolevetzky raion, near Mytyn at the bank of the river Seym Measurements: 3.02 gr, 27mm
Q, The Severus stater is a beauty ! What a contrast in style between the two coins . The Severus stater was engraved by an expert & the Caracalla stater was engraved by a journeyman .
These are SO HIGH on my want list, but they are very difficult to find, let alone purchase. The ones I was specifically looking for were: But, truly congrats on an outstanding collection!
The top coin is a Zlatnik, i.e. a gold coin of Vladimir I. You can take it right off your wish list, I'm afraid. Short of breaking into the Ermitage in St. Peterburg, such a coin is completely unavailable to collectors. Zlatnik - Vladimir the Great - Kievan Rus – Numista The second coin is a Srebrenik of Vladimir I of Typ I. In that quality you are looking at around 8000 to 12000 USD.