Находки русских серебряных проволочных монет XVI – начала XVIII вв. в низовьях р. Варзуга (Мурманская область)
Finds of Russian silver wire coins of the 16th – early 18th centuries in the lower reaches of the Varzuga river (Murmansk region)

Summary/Abstract: A current lacuna exists between the extant written and archaeological sources concerning the economy of the Kola North and White Sea region during the 16th–19th centuries. It is evident that the Pomor fishery on the Murmansk coast, a subject that has been extensively documented, was characterised by the pervasive utilisation of currency. This currency was employed for the acquisition of ships, equipment, salt, the remuneration of labourers, the payment of dues and tariffs etc. However, coins of this time are almost absent in the archaeological materials from the Murmansk region. In light of this evidence, three complexes of Russian silver wire coins discovered in the lower reaches of the Varzuga River between 1958 and 1972 are of particular significance. The structure of the first complex is represented by 12 kopecks, of which one belongs to the emission of Mikhail Fedorovich, one was minted during the joint reign of Ivan Alekseevich and Peter Alekseevich, and the remaining ten belong to the time of the sole reign of Peter Alekseevich. The second complex consists of nine coins. Two of these coins were minted during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich, three others were issued during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, and one (a rare denga) was minted during the joint reign of Ivan Alekseevich and Peter Alekseevich. The remaining three coins were issued during the reign of Peter Alekseevich. The third complex is represented by a denga of Ivan Vasilievich IV, a kopeck of Aleksei Mikhailovich and a kopeck of Fedor Alekseevich. The particular characteristics of monetary circulation in the Russian North indicate that the coins were in circulation during the latter half of the 17th century and the early 18th century.

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