A coin story: The Russian beard tax
Peter the Great, the famous Tsar of Russia (1689-1725), worked hard to transform his vast empire into a modern European state like France, the Netherlands, and England. Therefore, he made every effort to establish great cities like St. Petersburg and founded modern industries such as shipbuilding. He also encouraged the establishment of trade routes with the West.
Upon his return from one of his European trips, he issued a surprising decree that all Russian citizens must wear European-style clothing—specifically, like the Germans—and shave their traditional, thick beards! The Tsar felt that forcing the people to live like Europeans would ultimately lead to an appreciation of Western civilization instead of outdated Russian traditions, which he believed were incompatible with the 17th century! However, Peter's decree was met with a storm of internal criticism. The aristocrats reminded him that a long beard was an imitation of the image God had created man in, and therefore shaving it might be considered heresy and blasphemy!
Even the nobility fiercely resisted the law and forced the stubborn Tsar to accept a compromise: the solution was that those who wished to keep their beards would pay a huge tax, and would be given a small coin as proof of payment of this tax. Thus, in 1705, the “Russian Beard Coins” were minted. The design was unique and different from the other coins circulating in Russia. On one side there was an image of the double-headed imperial eagle and below it the words “Year 1705” were inscribed, and the edge was a wreath of leaves. On the other side it bore the words “Monetary Token” and below it a design of a nose, mustache, lips, and beard, and on the left side was a seal of the imperial eagle.
The law was amended: all Russian men of all social classes (except clergymen) were required to shave their beards, and those who wished to keep their beards had to pay an annual tax ranging from 30 to 100 rubles for nobles, high-ranking officials, and dignitaries – each according to their position in the state – or one kopek for peasants. Those who paid the tax were required to carry the “beard coin” everywhere and to produce it if asked to do so. The coin, or token, was issued only in 1705, and it is unknown whether the left seal was an addition indicating renewal for another year or had a different meaning… However, 24 years after the law was enacted (and many years after the death of Peter the Great), Empress Elizabeth reconsidered it and decided to abolish it permanently in 1762.
When the law was abolished, the Russians celebrated the destruction of the symbol of the law, represented by the hateful copper pieces, which are therefore very scarce today. Interestingly, after the law was abolished, most Russians continued to shave their beards out of habit, and so it seems that Peter's plan was ultimately successful!
