v08_1720 - RUSSIA - CATHERINE II Poltina en or ou demi-rouble 1777 Saint-Pétersbourg

RUSSIA - CATHERINE II

(07/17/1762-11/17/1796)

Catherine (2/05/1729-17/11/1796) was the greatest tsarina after Peter the Great. She succeeded her husband, Pierre III, who was deposed in 1762 before being assassinated by the Orloff brothers. His very long reign brought Russia into the "Age of Enlightenment". Friend of the philosophers including Diderot from whom she bought his library, liberal, she nevertheless reinforced the despotism and the nationalization of Russia. She fought against the Turks and was an opponent of the French Revolution.