one of those exciting days

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

Ever have one of those days when you are just going along doing your chores and then something happens? Today I was hauling stuff to feed the pigs, stepped over the fence into the sheep pasture and saw a piece of metal on the ground. My first thought was, 'that is a big knock out', as in something taken out of an electrical box. I picked it up and upon closer examination found I had a Russian, double headed eagle coin minted in 1831. It is fun to hold something made 175 years ago that lasted. It is about the size of an old silver dollar. The denomination is 5 something starts with a K but some of the letters are not on my key board. I think it is brass. It's brown with green tones and shiny spots where scratched.

Just wanted to share my excitement.

(Yesterday I felt rather down, I had posted this,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=69736&mesg_id=69753
and didn't get one response...)
When the earth reveals something to me I always feel it is blessing me... But it usually does it with arrowheads.

I thank the goddess for the many blessing bestowed upon me, and ask to be shown the path to be a blessing unto the universe myself,
AnotherDreamWeaver

[rockymountaindem]

1. Which Tsar is on it?

Congrats on your find!

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

2. I don't know about Tsar...

The side with the date has a double headed eagle holding a ribbon and something else, a crown centered above the two heads. The other side has the 5 and then the word with a K, it looks like KOIIbEK- The b has a cross through the top and the last letter is like an upside down L with the top going off to the left. Under that is a bar which is like two long tear drops, the points to the outside and a dot in between them. Under that appears two small letters, c.m.

Let me know if you know anything. Fort Ross is about 4 miles as the crow flies, but 30 minutes to drive to. I figure the Russians traded with the Indians and it ended up here, or maybe one of the Russians lost it on a long hike.

[rockymountaindem]

7. The word on it is "Kopeck", which is the Russian equivalent of a cent

Congratulations on finding a 19th century Russian nickel!

Of course, you're lucky to find it where you did because these days if anybody were to try and take such a thing out of Russia it would be against the law. Finding imperial era memorabilia of any kind in the west would be a good find, so good job spotting it because who knows? Could be worth something. If you're wondering, it comes from the days of Nicholas I, but I guess his royal reactionary highness couldn't deign to be on anything less than a ruble coin.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear AnotherDreamWeaver!

Sounds really interesting!

How about taking a pic of it, and letting us have a look?

If you're digital, I can help with how to post a pic...

:hi:

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

4. We bought a camera a while back,

but it broke... And there is so much I wish I could take a picture of.

I was sent a picture of myself on Mayday, I was wondering how to cut it down and making it my avitar. But having a Mac, I haven't learned how to post a picture here yet. The PC users say "right click" and my mouse isn't configured that way...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Oh, that's too bad...

My husband has a Mac, and I know there are commands to get around the fact that the Mac mouse doesn't work that way...

But I don't know what they are, alas...

Get your camera fixed.....or buy a new one, if you can!

Digital cameras can be had for a few hundred dollars these days...

You don't need anything really fancy...

:hi:

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

6. I keep thinking about buying one

But with monthly bills, and no "monthly income", I watch my coin as it were... We have been doing well at the farmers market on weekends, but next weekend is our last one for the year. Gotta save for the months when nothing is coming in. Maybe I can get a neighbor to photograph it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. If I were near you, I would do it!

But I don't think I am, alas...

I'm in SoCal...

I know you're in CA too......but probably too far away!

A neighbor would certainly do the trick!

:hug:

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

11. A page with a picture

Hi Peggy,
A neighbor that I showed the coin to sent me this web page: http://www.ancientcoins.ca/russia4.html
If you go down the page to the 5 Kopeks, there are 3 from 1833 and one from 1836 that look like my coin.
That was nice of her. Doesn't look like they are worth a lot though...

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

12. Here is a great picture

of a similar coin. This is dated one year before mine and mine has c.m. as small letters on the one side, not three letters like the coin in the picture.

http://www.library.yale.edu/slavic/coins/html/nicholas1/2001.87.268.html#ob

(forgot to post the link.... I'm in a hurry to get my chores done.)

[Adsos Letter]

9. Hey! Fort Ross!

What a cool place; been there many times.

As I am sure you realize, you have yerself a gen-u-wine piece of fur trading history there. Dr. Steven Watrous, professor emeritus at Sonoma State University, was a specialist on the Russians and Fort Ross when I was there.

He is retired now but maintains and e-mail account through the university. I am sure he would love to hear about it, and could probably tell you a lot about it.


e-mail: [e-mail]

CONGRATULATIONS! :D

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

10. I have a neighbor who works there

Had to call her about it, she may come by to look at it tomorrow on her way home. I'll send Dr. Watrous a note. Thanks for the information.