Catherine II Rouble

Catherine II's roubles were often struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a shrewd workaround for Russia's silver shortages during her reign.

This approach wasn't unique, but it highlighted the empire's reliance on foreign metals amid ongoing wars and trade imbalances. The coins themselves featured Catherine's profile on the obverse, with imperial eagles or coats of arms on the reverse, marking a shift toward more standardized designs.

Variations exist across the 1762-1796 period, including different mint marks from St. Petersburg and other sites, though exact production details for many years remain murky—likely due to archival losses in later conflicts.

As for counterfeits, they're plentiful enough to make any handler pause. That's the numismatic life.