The Umrevinsky Hoard of Silver Wire Kopecks from the Reign of Peter I

Abstract

The Umrevinsky hoard, comprising 107 silver wire kopeks, was found in 2008 outside the walls of Fort (Ostrog) Umrevinsky, founded in 1703 on the right bank of the Ob River, 100 km north of Novosibirsk. This is the first time such a hoard was discovered in the Novosibirsk stretch of the Ob. Its composition is assessed with reference to archaeological fi ndings relating to Fort Umrevinsky. The chronology of the coins and of their deposition are evaluated. The location is near a dwelling within a manor, in an ash layer. The coins are relatively poorly preserved. We were able to identify the minting years of 34 coins. All specimens with legible stamp impressions were minted between 1696–1717. Based on the results, a conclusion is made that this was a hoard of coin silver. Firstly, most kopecks bear no discernible images that would guarantee specifi c weight and silver content; secondly, the hoard was deposited no earlier than 1735, i.e., 20 years after the coins had gone out of use. This conclusion is supported by the fact that some coins were apparently used as ornaments which were sewn on clothes by the natives. All these fi ndings enrich our knowledge of the history of Fort Umrevinsky.