By: MUDASSIR
The tumultuous beginning of Alexander I's rule in 1801, marked by the tragic murder of his father, Paul I, profoundly influenced his decisions.
The Moscow Kremlin hosted Alexander's 1801 coronation, commemorated by a silver jeton and large medals distributed to the public.
Alexander grappled with coinage design choices, ultimately maintaining Paul's precedent of omitting portraits on silver and gold coins.
In the backdrop, Alexander navigated geopolitical shifts, reversing Paul's alignment with France, strengthening ties with England.
The chosen design featured an eagle on the reverse, marking a departure from the mystical themes of Paul's era.
Coinage under Alexander witnessed changes in mintmaster initials, with AI (Alexander Ivanov) and FG (Fedor Helman).
Regular coinage commenced in January 1802, introducing rubles, poltinas, quarter rubles, and grivenniks.