Ruble - Ivan VI Pattern

Ivan VI was proclaimed Emperor of Russia in October 1740 at two months of age, following the death of Empress Anna. His reign lasted just over a year before Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, seized power in a coup and had the infant deposed. Ivan spent the remainder of his life in solitary confinement and was killed by his guards in 1764 — reportedly per standing orders — when an officer attempted to free him.

Pattern pieces bearing his name and titles were prepared at Saint Petersburg but never authorized for mass production. Bitkin records this as specimen 49 within a group of extremely rare pattern rubles from the transition period.