Peter the Great probably wasn't big into Movember.
The Emperor of Russia instituted a beard tax in 1698 - anyone who wanted to keep a beard had to pay a tax. Those who refused to pay were forcibly shaven.
To prove that they've paid the Beard Tax, bearded men would carry around a "Beard Token" - a coin which bore the inscription "money taken" on one side and "the beard is a superfluous burden" on the other side.
Recently, Russian archaeologists have found a haul of ancient coins containing the rare beard token in a 17th century ruin in the city of Pskov.
Via Lost at E Minor
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I wonder if women were exempt from the tax.
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Interestingly, there are more Democrats with facial hair than Republicans in Congress. But all US Presidents that had facial hairs were all Republicans.
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I'll alert the Democrats.
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Mmm... with the hypster beard frenzy, there is an idea to solve the federal budget deficit... :)
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