why should they? they just tried to write a word that would sound similar
in russian monarch is called ЦАРЬ but it can be spelled in many different ways in latin alphabet :)
It is very easy to keep the standard weight by cutting the pieces of the same length from silver wire of fixed diameter
there are some! http://art-hanoi.com/collection :)
try http://rustypennies.com
to Mikjo0: the information on your holder is correct, but Ivan-the-Terrible's Denga=1/2Kopek type did not bear dates on it. to Aidan Work: this...
The coin on the top is a kopek of Peter the Great, it is dated 1701. check more wire money here: http://kopek.ws/cgi-bin/topcoin?f=2
Coins of French Indochina
THere is a book by Rose about chopmarks
Krasnaya Vityaz: what is the meaning of your nick? sounds like wrong grammar ;)
yes, Sëma is a short version for Semyon (note the umlaut on E), short version for Serafima would be Sima. No problem anyway :)
Everybody think its a female name, especially Turkish people :)
Please visit a new website dedicated to Russian numismatics: Kopek.WS
Definitely a fake, or i would say a fantasy. I would be grateful if you submit the scans of this coin at Kopek.ws
Separate names with a comma.