Definition

• Among Peter the Great's measures to bring Rus- sia up to the level of European civiliza- tion was his decree that beards should not be worn. To encourage shaving lie im- posed a tax, varying in amount, according to the social standing, the mercantile class paying the highest tax for the privi- lege of retaining their beards. When the tax was paid a token was given as a re- ceipt.

  Chaudoir cites a piece in silver, dated 1705, of the size of the twenty Kopeck sil- ver coin. Schubert (p. 103) states that the specimens in silver are modern, and did not exist in the time of Peter 1. Of those in copper there were two varieties. One is like the silver piece and the other has the size and weight of a Ruble, and is square. They are dated 1699, 1705, and 1725.

Source

• Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)

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