Ivan III Denga

The most intriguing thing about the Ivan III Denga is how it served as a building block for Russia's monetary system, with its silver content helping to enforce economic reforms in a fractious realm. Weighing around 0.5 grams and struck in Moscow, this coin was part of Ivan's push to centralize control, using designs that featured simple crosses or the prince's monogram to assert authority. It's a neat example of how a tiny piece of metal could influence politics.

Mintage figures are murky; records from that era were spotty at best, and much was likely lost to fires or invasions. What we do know is that the denga was hammered by hand, leading to variations in shape and purity that frustrate modern graders. You'd think after 500 years, we'd have it all figured out, but some mysteries persist.

As for myths, let's skip the nonsense about cursed coins. This one was just currency, plain and simple.