Russian legend Peter the Great is celebrated on a half-kilo coin of pure gold

What do you get when you cross an icon of a nations history and a country that loves coin collecting? When that country is Russia and that icon is Peter the Great you get some impressive numismatics being released. A couple of years ago, JVP of Berlin released a Peter the Great coin as part of its Russian Emperors series, a low profile set of immaculate quality that we’ve recently seen appearing again at Powercoin and World Ancient Coins. Now you’re going to have to dig deeper than ever for a new coin featuring this giant of history.

Swiss coin producer International Coin House have announced the release of an 85 mm gold coin featuring Peter I of Russia and at half a kilo in weight, it’s not going to be an impulse buy. The reverse face of the coin is packed full of imagery including a framed portrait, a map of St. Petersburg, a statue from the famed Winter Palace, and a view across the Neva river of two period warships. There is some some selective colouring that isn’t highlighted on the images, but the description states that it’s the laurel and crown, the latter also playing host to a small Swarovski crystal. The water, shown blue, we believe is of a highly polished finish rather than actually blue.

The obverse is quite clever. Divided up into six sections, each part of this face depicts one of the pivotal moments in Peter the Greats life. A mix of personal and military scenes, it’s well balanced and attractive. Some parts of each image are polished, we’d assume the parts highlighted on the artwork as blue. As it’s an issue for Niue Island, the required effigy of Queen Elizabeth II sits in the centre surrounded by the usual inscriptions (denomination, issuer etc.). It’s great that this doesn’t infringe on the main design.

Packaging is quite unusual. It’s either inspired by Faberge or it’s the world’s most blinged-up boiled egg. Whatever the case, it exhibits a quite extraordinary level of detail for packaging and will likely prove very popular with the Russian target audience for the coin. This is the kind of coin we’re glad exists. It clearly isn’t for everyone, will be extremely expensive and so rare hardly any will get to see it, but the coin looks as if a huge amount of care and attention has been paid on it, the design is spot on and we’d expect the strike to be first class. We’ll push for some actual coin images when it becomes available, but we’d be surprised if the fifty on offer weren’t snapped up inside Russia in quick order. A classic looking coin is always welcome. Cool. The oligarchs have their coin, how about a silver one for us peasants?

2017 PETER I 500g GOLD COIN

MINTS DESCRIPTION

REVERSE: On the right hand-side the portrait of Peter I in a frame of laurel leaves (surrounded by the Peter the Great monograms) with the emblem of the Russian Empire and the crown as a symbol of royal power. Below the portrait an inscription: “1672-1725” years of his term.

On the left-hand side – the famous St, Petersburg’s Peter and Paul Fortress on a background of the first historical map of St Petersburg from the Peter the Great time. In the foreground one of the figures from the Winter Palace and a view through its fence to two schooners on the Neva river: “Ingermanland” – Russian 64-gun sailing ship of the line of rank 3 (Peter I was involved in its construction) and “Goto Predestination” – Russian 58-gun sailing ship of the line, designed by Peter I.

On the top of the coins an inscription: “Peter the Great” (in Russian). Hallmark “Au 999.9”. The frame of laurel leaves with the emblem of the Empire and the crown are gold colored.

UNUSUAL PACKAGING

OBVERSE: In the centre effigy of the Queen Elizabeth II. Inscriptions: “ELIZABETH II”, “2015”, “NIUE ISLAND”, “THREE TOUSAND DOLLARS”. Around the coin episodes from the life of Peter I:

1. Capture of Azov 1696 Peter the Great led 2 Azov campaigns of 1695-96 during the Russo-Turkish War of 1686-1700 aimed at capturing the Turkish fortress of Azov, which had been blocking Russia’s access to the Azov Sea and the Black Sea. The Azov campaigns demonstrated the significance of having a fleet and marked the beginning of Russia’s turning into a maritime power. It can be considered the first major accomplishment of the young Tsar.

2. Capture of Narva 1704 The Battle of Narva was the second Russian siege of Swedish fortress in Narva (present-day Estonia) during the Great Northern War, resulting in the capture of the town by Russia in August 1704.

3. Battle of Poltava 1709 The battle of Poltava is the largest battle of the Northern War between Russian troops under the command of Peter I and the Swedish army of Charles XII. It was held in 1709 near the city of Poltava in the Ukraine. The defeat of the Swedish army was a turning point in the Northern War against Russia and ended the Swedish domination of Europe.

4. Decree of “assemblies” 1718 In 1718 introduced Peter I a decree of “assemblies”, The Decree of 26.11.1718, announced by St. Petersburg general chief of police A.M. Devier, determined the procedure of assemblies in private lodgings “not only for amusement, but for business too, for one may meet another and chat over whatever is necessary to chat about”. According to the Decree, persons “from high ranks up to chief-officers and noblemen” and eminent merchants, chief artisans, distinguished officials with wives and daughters could take part in assemblies. Thanks to this decree Russian women appeared in public for the first time, free from the reclusion of their chambers.

5. Rescue of 3 drowning soldiers 1724 According to a legend, in November 1723, at Lakhta (on the the Finnish Gulf) Peter I saw a group of soldiers drowning near the shore. He jumped into the water and came to their rescue. Afterwords he fell into hypothermia and died within 3 months.

6. Tsar-boatbuilder Peter the Great learned boat building from the Europeans invited to Russia. He built by himself a famous boat named “Vereyka”.

Scenes from Peter’s life are selectively polished.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2017 PETER I
DENOMINATION $3000 New Zealand
COMPOSITION 0.999 gold
WEIGHT 500.0 grams
DIAMETER 85.25 mm
FINISH Proof
MODIFICATIONS Colour
MINTAGE 50
BOX / COA  Yes / Yes
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