2021-08-03 Tue

Reigned as Empress of Russia for 34 years, Catherine II was called Catherine the Great as she exemplifies the enlightened despot of her era.

She came to power in 1762 when she was just 33 years old after orchestrating a coup that forced her estranged husband, Emperor Peter III to abdicate. He was later assassinated making Catherine the undisputed monarch of the world’s largest nation. Despite her ruthless rise to power, Catherine revitalized Russia into one of the great powers of Europe. Today, her long 34-year reign is known as the Golden Age of the Russian Empire.

Coins from this era are struck when the Empress was at the height of her power, these massive copper coins feature the iconic two-headed Russian eagle on one side and Catherine’s crowned monogram on the other. These coins are hefty pieces of history when Russia’s Empress Catherine the Great was without a doubt the most powerful woman in the world!

Image Courtesy: coinshome.net