Vladimir Y. Bazhin, Nail M. Telyakov, Tatiana A. Aleksandrova, Denis V. Gorlenkov DOI: 10.31897/PMI.2019.2.201 Production of Silver Ruble and Participation of the Saint-Petersburg Mining University… Metallurgy and Mineral Processing UDC 671:669(092) PRODUCTION OF SILVER RUBLE AND PARTICIPATION OF THE SAINT-PETERSBURG MINING UNIVERSITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MONETARY INDUSTRY OF RUSSIA Vladimir Y. BAZHIN, Nail M. TELYAKOV, Tatiana A. ALEKSANDROVA, DENIS V. GORLENKOV Saint-Petersburg Mining University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia The article is a continuation of the research on the production of silver rubles and the development of Russian coinage. Graduates of the Saint-Petersburg Mining University contributed to the reputation and history of the Saint- Petersburg Mint as an advanced and high-tech production. The article describes the beginning of the development of silver ruble production, the use of ores from the Ner- chinskoye deposit in the Transbaikalia to produce the main raw material in the form of concentrates and a silver al- loy. The materials for the study used unique exhibits of the Mining Museum of the Saint-Petersburg Mining Univer- sity, which are associated with the history of coinage and the Saint-Petersburg Mint. Some samples of lead-silver ores cast billets, and stamped coins were studied to determine the technological features of their manufacture. An analyti- cal study of the features of minting and obtaining the first Russian silver coins according to some data of the royal decrees was carried out. The current level of technology and knowledge, as well as the special equipment of the labo- ratories of the Saint-Petersburg Mining University, made it possible to re-evaluate the characteristic features of the production of silver coins. Key words: silver ore; coin; Mint; Mining Museum; Saint-Petersburg Mining University; silver ruble; metallurgy; structure; standard How to cite this article: Bazhin V.Y., Telyakov N.M., Aleksandrova T.A., Gorlenkov D.V. Production of Sil- ver Ruble and Participation of the Saint-Petersburg Mining University in the Development of Monetary Industry of Russia. Journal of Mining Institute. 2019. Vol. 236, p. 201-209. DOI: 10.31897/PMI.2019.2.201 Introduction. The production of the silver ruble in Russia has a long history since the time of Peter the first. From 1701 to 1720 the establishment of mints was entrusted to Peter's associates (the stolnik N.O.Kokovinsky, Senator V.A.Apukhtin, Prince P.I.Prozorovsky, Admiral F.A.Golovin, Admiral F.M.Praksin, etc.). In 1720, the Mining Board started to manage the monetary business, and from 1731 a special monetary office was established, later is was renamed into the Coin's Of- fice. From 1763 all the mints of Russia entered the office of the Mint Department of the Mining Board. In 1811, the management of mints was included in the authority of the Department of Min- ing and Salt Affairs, which had a close relationship with the Mining Cadet Corps (Mining Univer- sity). At that time, the Coin Charter, which existed until 1885, was published, when a new and last Coin Charter was introduced. There are scientific studies and publications devoted to the development of coinage in Russia and abroad [11, 12, 23]. The coin business is a whole complex of issues related to the system of money circulation, which is based on a full-bodied coin, which ensures the value of the metal con- tained in it. The special literature covers in details the processes and historical features of copper coins production [4, 19] and the technological features of copper-nickel coins production, which are of interest for this study. The problem for studying the history of the silver ruble production, which was originally the main financial unit of Russia, is the fire of 1917, which destroyed the archives of the Mint and many samples. However, private collections and museums (the Hermitage, the Mu- seum-Estate «Ostafyevo», the Mining Museum of the Mining University) preserved the authentic samples and materials about the silver ruble manufacture; this data can be used to restore the pro- duction history. Considering the recommendations of I.G.Spassky [20] about the need to study the cultural heri- tage in the field of coinage, scientists of the University of Mines investigated some features of the silver coins production technology. The Mining Museum has relevant documents and samples, which help to examine the whole cycle of coin production starting from the development of Ner- 201 Journal of Mining Institute. 2019. Vol. 236. P. 201-209 ● Metallurgy and Mineral Processing Vladimir Y. Bazhin, Nail M. Telyakov, Tatiana A. Aleksandrova, Denis V. Gorlenkov DOI: 10.31897/PMI.2019.2.201 Production of Silver Ruble and Participation of the Saint-Petersburg Mining University… chinsk ore and ending with genuine coins of that time. Of historical importance for the 245-year history of the University of Mines is that prominent graduates of the University of Mines, such as Ya.P.Chernyshev, F.F.Lesnikov, I.K.Zatler, M.Mikhailov and others, who became mintsmeister of the Mint in St. Petersburg [8]. Thanks to the modern scientific and laboratory base of the University of Mines today it is possible to get a clear assessment of ore samples, ingots, rolled strips, checks and test coins of various categories. Features of the royal silver rubles production technology. In the classic work of V.V.Uzdennikov [22], there is a list of governmental decisions determining the alloy standard and the monetary unit (or total weight) of coins from 1700-1917. The list begins with the Edicts of His Imperial Majesty dated January 24 and February 14, 1718. However, there are two more edicts is- sued before 1718. The first one is dated May 18, 1701 [15] and is called «On the redistribution of old money, sending them to the mint and the exchange of old money for new for individuals with extra payment of 10 kopeks per ruble». This edict refers us to 1495: «...the Tsar orders to exchange money». In 1495, Ioann III Vasilyevich invited foremen from Italy, who began to skillfully mint Russian coins. It is believed that this year is [6] the beginning of the production of rubles in the form of a coin, which confirms the text of the decree of Peter I. In 1701 Peter I made the final decision on conducting large-scale financial reform. Consequently, by this time many components of the enormous state fi- nancial mechanism must be ready for the changes. From 1964 to 1701 8592366 silver coins were made. These coins and unaccounted coins from 1495 to 1664 were re-coined. In the second decree [16] of October 26, 1711 «On the making a small silver coin of 70 zolot- niks» the Government Senate ordered the mint to coin fine silver coins out of pure fused silver, for- eign silver coins, and talers until the special order from the Merchant Chamber. In these pure silver coins, there should be 70 zolotniks per pound. This order of the Tsar was sent to the Mint (Mone- tary Silver Yard). From 1701 to 1711 17070063 coins were minted. This decree for the first time sets a standard for a silver coin. By 1711 a technology was developed for producing silver from the ore of the Nerchinskoye deposit and minting the silver ruble. The main stages that allowed Peter I to carry out a large-scale monetary reform successfully were set. In 1649, Alexei Mikhailovich issued a decree according to which merchants were obliged to sell talers only to the government. Due to this, the state received about 150,000 silver talers per year. It was difficult to turn the accumulated silver into coins of greater value. During this period the state faced the task of developing domestic silver deposits. The first coinage of the ruble began in May 1649, and on May 8 a decree was issued on re- coining 890,000 talers into new silver rubles. This technology used the hammering device. The principle of this hammer was that a load weighing 50 kg fell from a height of 6-7 feet along a direc- tional groove with a stamp attached to it, thereby gaining enough power to stamp a coin [25]. Dur- ing this process, the stamps often broke, and in September 1649 the coinage practically ceased. The order was not unfulfilled, and Alexei Mikhailovich lost interest in this idea. But they found a way out – they could re-stamp talers with Russian emblems. For our research, it is important that talers did not contain gold, and in Russian silver ores, it contains from 3-10 g per 1 ton. We found gold in various concentrations in all studied samples of coins and billets. The data of R.Zander [5] show that in the middle of the 17th century it was impossible to im- plement regular minting of large silver coins, and at that time it was a ruble, but the industry gained the necessary experience for further development. The work of the press should not depend on the coining dies. The die should be prepared in advance and the required quantity. The number of dies necessary to ensure the operation of the mint is shown in [8]. «So, only in one year, 1819, in the Medal Chamber they made two dies, three master stamps and 281 stamps for minting gold coins. The results of the same year for silver processing look even more impressive: they made two dies, 12 master stamps, and 2396 stamps. ...Judging by the reports for 1819-20 the staff of the Medal Chamber officially employed 29-30 people: 10 medalists, 4 artists, 5 apprentices, and 8 students.