World CoinsRussia. Peter I The Great (1689-1725). Beard token 1705. Bitkin 3893. Brekke 3. 4 g. 24 mm. Russia. Peter I The Great (1689-1725). Beard token 1705. Bitkin 3893. Brekke 3. AE. g. 4.00 mm. 24.00 RR. Good VF. In line with Western European policies, in 1698 the Tsar Peter I instituted a bear tax. So people who wanted to wear beard were obliged to pay 30, 60 or 100 rubles annually according to the social status. This token was given as a proof of payment to people who, once paid the tax, could show it to officers to legitimate their beard. For further reading about the topic: Worthington, Daryl (2016-09-04). "Historys Strangest Tax? Peter the Great Puts a Price on Beards". New Historian. London: Forgotten Books. Walsh, Devan (2015), Analysis of Peter the Greats Social Reforms and the Justification of the Reactions from the General Public (PDF), retrieved 2016-12-27, "Указ Императора Петра I — О бритiи бородъ и усовъ всякаго чина людямъ, кромѣ поповъ и дьяконовъ, о взятiи пошлины съ тѣхъ, которые сего исполнить не захотятъ, и о выдачѣ заплатившимъ пошлину знаковъ" [Decree of Tsar Peter I — Concerning Beards and Mustaches of Certain Ranks of People, Exempting Priests and Deacons, and Levying a Fee and Issuing a Mark to Those Who Do Not Wish to Shave] (in Russian). 1705-01-16. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
