Expert board:

• Scientific Council of RAS on economic history;
• Research and Educational Center «The economic history of Central Russia and the Middle Volga region» of Ogarev Mordovia State University;
• Center of Economic History of  Lomonosov Moscow State University

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ISSN 2409-630X (Print), ISSN 2618-916X (Online)

DOI: 10.24412/2409-630X.067.020.202404.378-385

УДК 94:336.746.1(470+571)”1756-63”

Vasily A. Grigorkin

National Research Ogarev Mordovia State University (Saransk, Russia),

e-mail: wormannmeister@gmail.com

 

Minting of Copper Coins of the Russian Empire during the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763)

 

Abstract

Introduction. Copper coins played a huge role in the monetary circulation of the Russian Empire. It can be safely said that the government of the Russian Empire developed its own approach to copper coins, which differed from the European approach to small coins. By the beginning of the Seven Years’ War, which required large financial costs, the influx of silver from abroad was undermined, so operations with copper coins became the only way to revive the economic life of the country. During this period, Russian copper coins experienced the effects of several grandiose recoinage. These reforms were headed by P. I. Shuvalov. The purpose of the article is to study the evolution of minting and recoinage of copper coins during the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), its goals and results.

Materials and Methods. Comparative-historical, chronological and genealogical research methods were used, the principles of objectivity and historicism were observed.

Results. Lightening the coin stand played an important role in maintaining the stability of the Russian financial system during a long, difficult war.

Discussion and Conclusion. Russia, unlike European countries, managed to avoid inflationary deterioration of its coinage. Fluctuations in the minting of copper coins ceased after the end of the Seven Years’ War.

Keywords: Seven Years’ War, copper coin, coin stand, speculation, kopeck, re-minting, crisis, economy, P. I. Shuvalov, Ya. P. Shakhovskoy, Peter III, Catherine II.

For citation: Grigorkin V. A. Minting of Copper Coins of the Russian Empire during the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763). Economicheskaya istoriya = Russian Journal of Economic History. 2024; 20(4): 378–385. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.24412/2409-630X.067.020.202404.378-385.

 

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