The presented gold kopeck is one of the rarest and most symbolic coins of the turbulent Time of Troubles and the Polish intervention in Moscow. It was struck between 1610 and 1612, when Polish forces occupied the Kremlin, and the Moscow mint issued coins bearing the name of Prince Władysław Zygmunt, recognized by the boyars as Tsar of Russia.,
The first gold kopecks in Russia were introduced under Tsar Vasily Shuisky, as a response to the treasury’s shortage of silver. One gold kopeck (1 kz) was officially valued at 10 silver kopecks (10 ks), although some sources suggest alternative rates – from 9 to 10.5 silver kopecks – which made the emission either advantageous or unprofitable depending on the calculation.
After Shuisky’s overthrow and the entry of Polish troops into Moscow in September 1610, the Kremlin mint came under Polish control. Production of gold kopecks continued, using dies originally made for silver coins alongside new dies bearing the titulature of Władysław, son of King Sigismund III Vasa. The emission lasted until 1612, when Polish forces were finally expelled from Moscow.
The gold kopecks were primarily used for military payments, serving as pay for soldiers, especially foreign mercenaries in the Polish ranks.
Obverse: ruler on horseback to the right, piercing an invisible dragon with a spear
Reverse: inscription in five lines
ꝔЬІВЄЛ / [І]КІИ КНѦЅЬ / [В]ЛАДІϹЛАВЪ / [Ж]ІГІ[М]ОНͲ / [ОΒ]ІЧЪВСС[Ѧ / РѴСИ]
Gold, diameter 14 mm, weight 0.60 g
