Alexander I 2 Kopeks

The Alexander I 2 kopeks coin, struck from thick copper planchets, could weigh over 10 grams—making it a literal handful in the pockets of soldiers and civilians during the Napoleonic Wars.

These coins were minted at the St. Petersburg facility between 1801 and 1825, bearing the tsar's profile on one side and the imperial eagle on the other. The design was straightforward, reflecting Russia's effort to maintain currency stability amid French invasions and economic blockades. Records from that era are spotty; we know production ramped up after 1812, but exact figures burned in the 1838 mint fire.

Counterfeits popped up frequently due to copper shortages, which numismatists like me spot by the off-struck edges. If you're handling one, check for wear—most survivors show the patina of hard use.

Plenty of myths swirl about these as lucky charms, but that's nonsense; they were just money.