Rare commemorative rouble of 1898 struck at the Petersburg Mint to mark the unveiling of the monument to Alexander II in Moscow. The construction of this vast architectural complex had been initiated by Alexander III, who wished to honour his father – the "Tsar-Liberator", renowned for the emancipation of the serfs in 1861.
The total mintage was just 5,000 pieces, making it one of the rarest commemorative issues under Nicholas II, alongside the second monumental rouble type.
Design by Abraham Griliches.
Attractive coin in about uncirculated condition. Graded AU58 by NGC.
Obverse: head of Alexander II facing left
РОДИЛСЯ 17 АПРЕЛЯ 1818 ГОДА СКОНЧАЛСЯ I МАРТА 1881 ГОДА АЛЕКСАНДРЪ II ИМПЕРАТОРЪ И САМОДЕРЖЕЦЪ ВСЕРОССIЙСIЙ
Reverse: Monument to Alexander II, with the denomination of РУБЛЬ underneath.
The minting of commemorative silver coins in Russia began at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Most of this type of issue was minted at the St. Petersburg Mint, and many of them never entered circulation. Along with commemorative coins, the minting of commemorative medals was also established.
The presented copy is a commemorative ruble from 1898, minted on the occasion of the unveiling of the monument to Alexander II in Moscow. In the first half of the 1890s, Alexander III ordered a monument to be erected in Moscow for his father, Alexander II, who died at the hands of a terrorist in 1881. The construction was completed in 1898 during the reign of Nicholas II. This monument was a memorial complex, consisting of three parts, which consisted of a tent canopy, a central column and the statue of Emperor Alexander II itself. The complex was built for five years, it was located in the center of the Moscow Kremlin hill. Unfortunately, the statue of the Tsar the Liberator did not last long in this place. After the October Revolution, the statue of Alexander II was destroyed. In its original form, this historic point has survived only in drawings, photographs and, of course, in images on commemorative medals and coins from 1898. Currently, among all the copies of Russian commemorative silver coins, this particular item is extremely popular and desirable among collectors.
