Silver Coin Hoard from Russian Empire Discovered in Tula
Rescue archaeological research is being conducted by the group of companies «Chernozemye» on Sovetskaya Street, in the circus district, where a residential complex is planned for the future. According to specialists, the finds made since the beginning of the excavations allow dating the cultural layer of this area to the late 16th – early 20th century.
In autumn, a hoard from the 18th–19th centuries was discovered at the site. The silver coins were found in a small round jug made of red clay. Archaeologists counted a total of 79 coins.
The hoard consists of various denominations of the Russian Empire, including a half-ruble from 1842 (less than $1 at current rates), a silver coin from 1817 weighing 4 zolotniki 21 doli (about 18.2 grams, with zolotnik and dolya being historical weight units), coins with a face value of ¾ ruble from 1834 and 1836 (less than $1 each), 1½ rubles from 1835 (approximately $0.02), 25 and 30 kopecks from the mid-19th century (less than $1 each), as well as rare krestoviki (cross-type coins) from 1798 during the time of Paul I. Among the finds are rubles from the eras of Catherine II, Anna Ioannovna, Nicholas II, and a commemorative ruble «300 Years of the Romanov House» (with USD equivalents less than $1 each at current rates).
According to archaeologists, all the coins are made of silver, with the main part dating from the 19th century, although earlier specimens from the 18th century are also found. Specialists suggest that the hoard was hidden in 1918, during the revolutionary events. Probably, the owner was never able to return for the valuables and perished during the Civil War.
