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12 Roubles - Nicholas I
| Issuer | St. Petersburg Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1830-1845 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | The Imperial Russian double-headed eagle is displayed at center, with both heads crowned individually and surmounted by a larger Imperial crown above. The eagle's spread wings are finely detailed with layered feathers, and the central shield bears the mounted figure of St. George slaying the dragon. Surrounding the shield are multiple subsidiary armorial escutcheons representing the various territories of the Russian Empire. The eagle's right talon clutches an orb surmounted by a cross, and its left talon holds an elaborately decorated sceptre. The entire design fills the field with no peripheral legend, bordered by a finely milled rim. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents the denomination and metallic specification in bold Cyrillic lettering arranged across the central field, reading '12 РУБЛЕЙ НА СЕРЕБРО' (12 Roubles in silver). A decorative foliate sprig separates the denomination from the date '1835.' below, with the mint mark 'С.П.Б.' (St. Petersburg) beneath. A circular peripheral legend reads '9 ЗОЛ· 68 ДОЛ· ЧИСТОЙ УРАЛЬСКОЙ ПЛАТИНЫ' (9 zolotniks 68 dolyas of pure Ural platinum), flanked by small ornamental rosettes. The design is enclosed within a beaded inner border and a milled outer rim. |
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| Additional information |
These are the world's first government-issued platinum coins struck for circulation, produced because Russia held an effective monopoly on global platinum supply following major deposits discovered in the Ural Mountains in the 1820s. The St. Petersburg Mint experimented with the metal through the late 1820s before Nicholas I authorized full denominated production in 1828. Platinum was poorly understood by the public, widely distrusted, and easily counterfeited in gilded silver — the primary reason the entire series was demonetized and withdrawn from circulation by imperial decree in 1845.