50 Ruble 2012 – Prince Rurik – 1150 years of Russia – PCGS PR70 DCAM

50 Ruble 2012 – Prince Rurik – 1150 years of Russia – PCGS PR70 DCAM

This 2012 edition was certified by PCGS with the highest grading PR70 Deep Cameo (DCAM), making it only one of two at PCGS.

Front

In the center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (double-headed eagle with wings down, below – semicircular inscription “Bank of Russia”), framed by a circle of dots and inscriptions along the circle – top: “Fifty Rubles”. On the left you can see information about the precious metal and alloy grade, in the center – issue date “2012”, on the right – fine metal content and the mark of the mint.

Back

in the center of the coin disc a half-height portrait of a man in military armor holding in his left hand an emblem – a kind of ancient weapon, in his right hand a two-line inscription “Prince Rurik”, on the wide band formed by the rim and the concentric circular line an inscription running from left to right: “1150 years of the beginning of the Russian state”. In the upper part of the band there is an ornament of wavy lines.

History

The year 862 is traditionally considered the beginning of the Russian state.

In IV-VII century A.D. there was a great migration of peoples in Europe, which included Slavic tribes. Slavic colonization developed in several directions. Their northern wedge extended to Lake Ilmen in Novgorod, where the neighbors of the Slavs were Ugrofinn tribes. In the ninth century, the trade route “from the Vikings to the Greeks”, opened by the Scandinavian Vikings, passed through here, thanks to which the local tribes became involved in international trade.

The main source of information about the invitation of Vikings to Russia is still the chronicle from the past years. The chronicle reports that in 862 Rurik and his brothers were invited by the Vikings to rule in Novgorod. It is generally believed that the Chudis, Ilmeni-Slovenian and Krivichi tribes were the initiators of this invitation. The reason for this was a petty war between the tribes living in the Novgorod territories. This event was taken as a basis by historians and traditionally considered the beginning of the states of the Eastern Slavs, and in historiography it is called the “Call of the Vikings”.

Meanwhile, there are different versions about an origin of Prince Rurik. Two of them are fundamental: one is Norman, the other West Slavic. Probably he was born in 817, and the followers of the Norman theory identify him with Konung Rurik of Jutland (Denmark). In the Slavic version, he is considered a representative of the princely dynasty of the Obodrites, his Slavic clan nickname is associated with the falcon and sounds like “Rarog”.

Probably the brothers Rurik, Sineus and Truvor came to the Russian country. Everyone had the feudal right. Rurik settled in the lands of the Slovenes, and Ladoga became his capital, which later passed to Novgorod (Rurik’s location at the sources of the Volhov River, near present-day Veliky Novgorod). After a certain time, the rule of the Vikings began to cause great discontent. A rebellion broke out, led by Vadim the Brave. According to legend, the brothers of Rurik were also killed. He connected their country with his own and established sovereignty, laying the foundation of Russia.

Details

Face value: 50 rubles
Year: 2012
Minting quality: Proof
Fineness: 999/1000
Fine weight: 7,78g
Diameter: 22.60mm (±0.15)
Thickness: 1.60mm (±0.20)
Mintage: 1500
Mintage: St. Petersburg Mint (SPMD)
Edge: 134 corrugations
Special feature: PCGS PR70 Deep Cameo (DCAM)