Russian Beard Tax Token

Peter the Great (1672-1725), Tsar of Russia, wanted to Westernize his nation. To do so, among other actions, he required the men of Russia to shave their beards in imitation of the highborn men of Western Europe. Or, alternatively, to pay a beard tax. Men who paid this tax were given a token as proof:

On 16 January 1705, men 'of all ranks', including merchants and artisans (but not priests, deacons and peasants), were ordered to shave. Anyone who wished to keep his beard and whiskers had to pay a fine on a sliding scale according to status: 60 roubles for nobles, military officers and chancellery officials, 100 roubles for merchants of the first guild, and so on. Permits took the form of a beard token disc obtainable from the Police Office. Bearded persons had to pay a kopeck each time they entered the city gates.

Link -via The Oddment Emporium | Photo: US State Department


Comments (0)

Surely it's more like 8 inches tall (have a look at the picture, 4 inches on that tape goes from the middle of the front leg up to the eyeball).

It's probably 4 inches from its belly to the middle of its back.

Still tiny, though.
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I call BS on "4 inches tall." Unless that tape measure is incorrect, that puppy is much taller than that at the withers, and possibly double that to the top of the head.

Of course, the perspective in the photo might be totally an optical illusion, in which case you can disregard all of the above.
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My Yorkshire Terrier is 1 year old and 5 inches tall/ six inches long. She wieghs 1 pound and 8 ounces, but I'm hoping she'll hit 2 pounds someday. So tiny. Tiny dogs need love too you guys!!!
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Have met Dancer and next to my 5 lb. Pomeranian he looks like a squeekie toy.

Dancer is now the smallest working Therapy dog I know. proud as punch of him.
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I was at a airport a few years back and saw 2 of he smallest dogs I have ever seen, I think they were terriers but cant remember for sure. the owners did say they were called tsp and tablespoon terriers I believe. has anyone heard of these types of dogs? If you can help me out that would be wonderful.

Patty
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awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cccccccccccccccccuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

so cute
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That is one of the fugliest things I've ever seen..... Looks like the left over hair people leave in a drain after taking a shower...if anyone argues with this comment....you obviously don't have a life
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You know sad part about these pint sized pups is they are bred to be so small because people think they are "CUTE"! Your wanting a dog so tiny makes people breed runts ( the poor sickly dogs that have to be hand fed just to live) and lable them as "Tea Cup" (NO SUCH BREED)! What the breeders fail to tell you is most of these dogs have major health issues costing thousands a year in vet bills. Yet they sell these dogs for twice the price. Its "CUTE" it's also inhumane and creating a very unhealthy trend!
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