Thaler with countermark (Efimok)
1655 ・ silver ・ 17th century ・ Moscow (original coin from Saxony)
A Thaler struck in Saxony in 1612, countermarked by Moscow in 1655 with a horseman and the date. Lacking silver mines, the country typically melted imported Thalers to strike its own coinage. However, during the urgency of the war against Poland, they were put into circulation directly with only a countermark, without being melted down. This is a direct form of ratification, where the state officially validates a foreign coin.