1741–1762 Russia Copper 2 Kopeks Copper of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna

Queen Elizabeth And Saint George & The Dragon—From Russia?

If not for the fact that this large copper coin was minted in Russia under the rule of Empress (Queen) Elizabeth Petrova, you’d almost think it was a British coin. After all, its reverse design is eerily familiar to the design used on the British Gold Sovereign, namely Benedetto Pistrucci’s famous Saint George & the Dragon design first issued in 1817! The fact of the matter is that Saint George has been revered in Russia for centuries dating as far back to Yaroslav the Wise, who was Grand Prince of Kiev from 1019 until his death in 1054. Yaroslav’s baptismal name was George in honor of the famous Saint and his son later founded what was to become the Russian capital city, Moscow, in 1156. His son’s name: Yuri—Russian for George.

The Rise And Reign Of Russia’s Empress Elizabeth

Few royal experts ever gave much thought to Elizabeth ever ascending to the Russian throne. As the second daughter of Peter The Great’s second wife, she was way down near the bottom on the list of heirs in line to the throne. She was also betrothed to a German prince with solid connections to all of the royal houses of Europe only to see him die suddenly soon after the deaths or her father and mother. Tall, statuesque, and among the most beautiful women in Europe, her dim prospects for future advancement dried up the pool of potential suitors seeking her hand in marriage. So, from the time of her father’s death in 1725 until she began her own reign in 1741, Elizabeth survived the reigns of her mother, nephew, and two cousins.

One Of Russia’s Most Popular And Influential Monarchs

With the backing of the Russian army, Elizabeth finally seized the throne and went on to rule for more than two decades as one of Russia’s most popular and influential monarchs. Reigning from 1741 to 1762, Elizabeth led the Russian Empire during the two major European conflicts of her time: the War of Austrian Succession (1740–1748) and the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763). During her reign, Elizabeth continued the policies of her father and brought about a remarkable Age of Enlightenment in Russia.

Many collectors seek out Great Britain’s Gold Sovereign for its collectability and historical significance. And although this coin is struck in copper, it still holds a massive amount of historical significance. Get yours!