Nicholas I Rouble

The most intriguing fact about the Nicholas I rouble is that it was struck from silver sourced directly from Russia's Ural mines, a deliberate shift to reduce foreign dependencies after the costly Napoleonic Wars.

This coin, circulating from 1825 to 1855, featured a simple yet effective design: Nicholas I's profile on the obverse, complete with his characteristic mustache, and the double-headed eagle on the reverse. Variations exist, particularly in edge lettering or minor die differences, which can trip up the unwary. We know the Saint Petersburg mint handled most production, but exact outputs for certain years remain murky—some ledgers burned in a 19th-century fire.

If you're handling one, note the 25.7-gram weight and .868 fineness; it's a sturdy piece that held up well in daily use. Counterfeits popped up, especially during the 1840s, but that's another story. As for myths, no, it wasn't cursed—just a coin that did its job.