THE RUSSIAN COINS 



A.D. 



1554- 



The coines, weights and measures used in -Russia, t 1 - 2 5 6 -] 

 written by John Hasse, in the yere, 1554. 



Orasmuch as it is most necessary for al 

 marchants which seeke to have traffique 

 in any strange regions, first to acquaint 

 themselves with the coines of those 

 lands with which they do intend to 

 joyne in traffique, and how they are 



called from the valuation of the highest 

 piece to the lowest^ and in what sort they make their 

 paiments, as also what their common weights and 

 measures be : for these causes I have thought good to 

 write some thing thereof according to mine owne know- 

 ledge and experience, to the end that the marchants of 

 that new adventure, may the better understand how 

 the wealth of that new frequented trade will arise. 



First, it is to be noted that the Emperour of Russia No coines of 

 hath no other coines then silver in all his land, which gold in Russia, 

 goeth for paiment amongst merchants, yet notwithstand- t a \ °^ 

 ing there is a coine of copper, which serveth for the 

 reliefe of the poore in Mosco, & no where els, and 

 that is but only for quasse, water and fruit, as nuts, 

 apples, and such other like. The name of which money 

 is called Pole or Poles, of which Poles there goe to 

 the least of the silver coines, 18. But I will not stand 

 upon this, because it is no currant money among 

 merchants. 



Of silver coines there be three sortes of pieces : the 

 least is a Poledenga, the second a Denga, the third, 

 Nowgrote, which is as much to say in English as halfe- 

 penie, penie, and twopence, and for other valued money 

 then this, there is none : there are oftentimes there 

 coines of gold, but they come out of forrein countreys, 

 whereof there is no ordinarie valuation, but they passe 

 according to the agreement of merchants. 



Their order in summing of money is this : as we say 

 11 273 s 



