ЧЕКАНКА СОВЕТСКИХ ПОЛТИННИКОВ В ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНИИ В 1924 Г
Coining Soviet 50-kopeek pieces in Great Britain in 1924

Summary/Abstract: This article focuses on the manufacture of 40 million 50-kopeek pieces (poltinniki) at the British Royal Mint for the Soviet government in 1924. It uses the original contract between the two sides (the Royal Mint and the Soviet Trade Delegation) to analyse the aims and requirements of both parties. To examine the extent to which the cooperation was successful, it compares the wording of this document with data about the real conditions and results of the work. In order to do this it uses archive materials from the Central State Archive of St. Petersburg about the work of the Leningrad Mint and materials of the Royal Mint at the British National Archives. The author uses this analysis as a case-study to reflect on the wider political and economic contexts of relations between Britain and the USSR in their foundational period: in the beginning of the year the two governments recognised each other ‘de-jure’, and in the following months negotiations took place for a general treaty and a new trade agreement. The coinage took place while these talks were ongoing, and hopes and expectations for closer ties in the future were expressed by both representatives of the Royal Mint, and those of the Soviet government, although ultimately relations between the two countries did not significantly improve in the following years.

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