RUSSIA. 1 Ruble Leather Money (Roobit), ND (ca. 14th-16th Century).
Charlton-pg. 318-320 (Royal Numismatic Society); Spassky-pg. 139, fig. 101. The use of leather as currency in Russia dates back to at least the 14th century when commercial trade was established between Russia and the Hanseatic League, with origins traced to the trading of leather hides. Necessary articles for trade were skins of the martens, squirrels, sables and ermine, each with a fixed value. Through gradual inflation, animal hides began to trade in portions, eventually resulting in small squares of embossed leather that circulated as currency. The term "Ruble" derives from the verb "roobit", meaning to chop or cut off, plausibly referring to the strips of leather as well as the cut silver. EXTREMELY RARE and historically very interesting. Dark glossy brown with minor cracking of the aged glazed surface. Very similar in texture as would be seen on an antique horse saddle or sword scabbard.
Pedigree: From the Demarete Collection.
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