Kievan Rus (Principality), Kievan Rus (Principality). Sviatopolk I Vladimirovich (The Accursed), as Grand Prince of Kiev Srebrennik circa 1015-1019, AR 28.00 mm., 2.72 g.
CFCΠΛΠΠ...- NCTO..., prince enthroned facing holding with right hand long cross potent with four pellets in arms and left hand on breast. Rev. [ACEE]ΓΟ - CΕΡGbΡΟ, royal tamgha of the Rurik dynasty in the form of a diving falcon, with cruciform right wing. Cf. Sotnikova & Spassky Type 4, 179-197; O. Pritsak, The Origins of the Old Rus' Weights and Monetary Systems. (Cambridge, MA. 1998), p. 127, 179-1 and p. 128, 179-1.

Very Rare. Flan chips and split, but well struck for the type. Good Very Fine

Sviatopolk I Vladimirovich, also known as the 'Accursed' due to his cold-blooded reprisals, was the eldest surviving son of Vladimir the Great in an era of fratricidal uncertainty, eventually succeeded to the throne of Kiev in 1015. He continued without a break the production of his father's coinage. This new silver coinage was obviously influenced by the broad Byzantine silver miliarensia, even broader and thinner Sasanian drachms and Islamic Dirhams that circulated throughout the early Russian regions of Novgorod, Muscovy and the north of the Kieven state from the 6th to the 10th centuries AD. This extraordinary silver coin type, called 'srebrenniki', depicts on the obverse the enthroned monarch surrounded by a pseudo Greek legend, usually garbled, stating his name and followed by the formula: NA STOLE 'on the throne'. The reverse depicts the tamgha of the Rurik dynasty in the form of a diving falcon, sometimes defined as a 'two pronged fork or bident', with around the usually garbled legend: A SIE EGO SREBRO 'and this his silver'.
Sviatopolk I Vladimirovich, also known as the 'Accursed' due to his cold-blooded reprisals, was the eldest surviving son of Vladimir the Great in an era of fratricidal uncertainty, eventually succeeded to the throne of Kiev in 1015. He continued without a break the production of his father's coinage. This new silver coinage was obviously influenced by the broad Byzantine silver miliarensia, even broader and thinner Sasanian drachms and Islamic Dirhams that circulated throughout the early Russian regions of Novgorod, Muscovy and the north of the Kieven state from the 6th to the 10th centuries AD. This extraordinary silver coin type, called 'srebrenniki', depicts on the obverse the enthroned monarch surrounded by a pseudo Greek legend, usually garbled, stating his name and followed by the formula: NA STOLE 'on the throne'. The reverse depicts the tamgha of the Rurik dynasty in the form of a diving falcon, sometimes defined as a 'two pronged fork or bident', with around the usually garbled legend: A SIE EGO SREBRO 'and this his silver'.