Although Cossacks under the loose control of Moscow had explored Siberia in the 16th century, it was not until the early 1700s that Russian control was solidified. At first the vast region was of value primarily as a source of furs, but as time passed valuable minerals and ores were discovered as well. By the 18th century, Siberia had also acquired an ominous name as the place where Czarist exiles were sent. In the 20th century it became even more ominous as untold millions were sent by Joseph Stalin to their doom in the infamous labor camps of the Siberian gulag.
There are many collectors of Siberian coins, perhaps second only to those specializing in the famous piataks, the 5–kopeck pieces struck under Catherine II for European Russia. In the case of Siberia, however, most collectors are content with a type set of the six denominations due to the high cost of completing a date run. It can be done, however, especially with the larger values. Polushkas and dengas, quarter and half kopecks respectively, are another matter entirely.
Because of the time required to travel to and from Siberia, especially the eastern part, coined money was always in short supply for the far-flung marketplaces. The plate coins made at Ekaterinburg in the 1720s were, in part, intended to supply a portion of
