EKATERINBURG MINT PLACE

Ekaterinburg Mint Place (1725-1876) was the governmental coinage establishment — one of main (after Petersburg and Moscow ones) mint places in the country and the principal copper coin producers in Russia. It was established to produce copper workpieces for central mints of Saint-Petersburg and Moscow and (later) to supply copper coins to eastern regions of Russia. It was preceded by Platnyi Dvor (Plate Workshop) established as a part of Ekaterinburg iron-smelting, iron-working and copper-smelting plant. First Ekaterinburg money appeared on December 1, 1725. They were quadrangular plates of four kinds: a rouble, a half-rouble, a quarter-rouble and ten copeck coins. Square copper coins were heavy (a rouble weighed 4 pounds), extremely inconvenient in use, reluctantly regarded by population and in February of 1727 their produce was stopped.

However, the need to expand the money circulation forced the authorities to renew the production of copper coins. In 1735 the Ekaterinburg Mint Place was established. Reconstruction of this establishment took place throughout the second half of XVIII century along with copper coinage.

In 1763 the hydraulic machinery system was finally introduced. The important point stimulating the Ekaterinburg Mint reconstruction was the decree of December 22, 1763 which ordered to establish the similar mint place in Siberia, at Kolyvano-Voskresensk plants. Copper money from golden-silvery copper (25 roubles"from a pound) which "would be circulated exclusively in Siberian Province" were supposed to be coined there. The Ural Mint Place should have become the base to equip its Siberian counterpart. Indeed, within the first year of new mint place all the necessary equipment and experienced professionals (29 persons) were transferred there from the Urals.  

The end of that century brought two-storied stone factories for main and subsidiary workshops whereas wooden ones were but the exception. All the useful space of the establishment was 1062 square sazhens (each sazhen is about 2.20 m).

In 1803 masters of Ekaterinburg Mint came to Georgia to work at Tbilisi Mint. Within long 17 years Ural workers were helping to arrange and perfect the factory. Many of them died on Caucasus and those survived were returned to the Urals in 1820s.

Energetic capacity of Ekaterinburg Mint consisted of 35 water wheels, 17 of them servicing the flattening factory. The enterprise was equipped with the newest equipment of that time; since 1760s all the mechanisms and machinery were using hydraulic energy. The coinage techniques were gradually improved and more productive tools and mills were introduced. Masters and workers took an active part in improving the equipment.

By that time paper money - bank notes which were still based on copper coins - appeared in Russia. The Manifest of 1768 announced the issue of bank notes. Ural copper money was distributed over the country. The budget deficit was planned to be made due to copper coins. Ekaterinburg Mint entered the XIX century with great prospects but also with no lesser problems.

In 1838 the special "mechanical institution" — a governmental factory was established at the Mint. All the new equipment for main and subsidiary workshops was now produced there. A British mechanical engineer who worked in Russia on a contract made a big deal in the "mechanical institution" — reconstruction and building of the new Mint Place.  

August 17, 1850 the newly reconstructed Mint was open. It was wonderful in all respects: high level of technical equipment, spacious workshops, decorated external appearance... By the end of 1850 the coin volume made in Ekaterinburg was up to 2 million roubles a year. However, the economical development of the country dictated the adoption of golden monometallism strategy. The role of copper coin in it had to be minimised and the Ekaterinburg Mint was no longer of need.   

In 1876 the enterprise was finally closed, and on 6th of May the commission signed the Mint Closing Act and that about destruction of instruments which could be used in coinage.

By that time there was over 80% of Russian copper coins produced in Ekaterinburg Mint, and Ural mining magnates boasted that the whole Russia had been chinking with Ural fivers in pockets for almost two centuries. In general, more than 500 samples of copper coins and several coin collections were produced.

Vladimir Zapariy