Our Ivan "The Terrible" kopeks date back to the reign of Russia's first Tsar (1547 to 1584). Most were acquired from a private collection in Russia, and they have all received thorough inspection for authenticity by the History Hoard team.

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Russia's first Tsar was a complicated man.

Contrary to popular belief, the name "Ivan the Terrible" wasn't given because of how bad Ivan IV Vasilyevich was as a leader—it actually meant "formidable."

But he definitely did some terrible things.

On the whole, Ivan was controversial. There's no doubt that he strengthened Russia, changing it from a primitive medieval state to a powerful empire.

Of course, he was also mentally unstable, paranoid, and had a habit of slaughtering anyone he thought of as a threat—nobles, entire towns, and even his own son.

In the end, Russians had to take the good with the bad.

These kopeks are a unique kind of money made from tiny pieces of silver wire. Through them, you can own a piece of the brutal reign of the first Tsar and feel a connection to one of Russia's most terrifying leaders.

About Ivan the Terrible:

Ivan IV Vasilyevich, more commonly known by his acquired nickname Ivan The Terrible, took the throne as the first Tsar of Russia in 1547. Contrary to popular belief, the word "terrible" was not meant to be interpreted as being "bad" or "awful"; rather, it was meant to describe the leader as fearsome and formidable.

This is not to say that Ivan the Terrible was a peaceful and benevolent leader. He was known for being extremely cruel towards Russian nobles (known as boyars) as he saw them as a threat to his power. As a result, he had many boyars executed in order to seize their lands. Ivan also perpetrated the Massacre of Novgorod using his private army, laying waste to the city and killing both boyars and commoners alike. His reasoning for this was simple paranoia; his mental state