Scene of homage, with the Prince seated left, holding a sword, supplicant right, "O O" left, .... right // Russian inscription: ВЕЛИ / КОГО NО / ВАГОР / ОДА ("of Great Novgorod"), dots in fields. 17mmx13mm, 0.64 grams. Novgorod mint, minted c.1420-1447. Huletski/Petrunin/Fishman #3004AG.

Rare early issue, minted 1420-1447, rated rarity 4 in H/P/F. Very nice high grade example, rare as such.

The Novgorod Republic (c. 1136–1478) was a powerful medieval state in northern Rus’, centered on the city of Novgorod the Great, and distinguished by its unique republican form of government. Authority was shared between a popular assembly (veche), elected officials such as the posadnik (mayor) and tysyatsky (militia leader), and an invited prince whose powers were deliberately limited. Novgorod prospered through trade, controlling routes between the Baltic and the Volga and maintaining close ties with the Hanseatic League. Its wealth, literacy, and relative political pluralism set it apart from other Rus’ principalities, but growing pressure from Moscow led to its defeat and annexation by Ivan III in 1478, ending its independence and integrating its lands into the expanding Muscovite state.