NUMISMATIC MATERIALS FROM THE EXCAVATIONS AT THE PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS IN 2017 AND 2019 AND THEIR BEARING ON THE DATING OF THE CULTURAL LAYER
A log-and-earth fortress on Zayachy island in the Neva River mouth was erected in 1703 by direction of Peter the Great. The building works took a short period from early May to late August. The construction of the stone fortress started in 1706. In 2017 and 2019, in the course of archaeological excavations carried out by IHMC RAS, a unique cultural layer with remains of the first log-and-earth fortress was discovered on the territory of the Menshikov bastion. Among the most important finds there are 18 coins issued by Peter I, including 14 wire kopecks, three copper quarter-kopeck pieces, and one copper half-kopeck coin. Two more coins with denomination of 1/6 öre were issued by Charles Х of Sweden (fig. 1; table). This numismatic collection is a reliable dating material, allowing to identify the constructions found in the cultural layer as the first logand-earth fortress of Peter the Great, that became the historical core of Saint Petersburg. Worthy of note is the presence in the collection of a number of coins minted with dies made with the same punches, and the absence of coins minted in 1703. The presence of Swedish coins may be indicative of the participation in the construction works of captive Swedish soldiers, who could have lost the coins. At the same time it cannot be excluded that these coins were brought to Zayachy island with earth from Nyenschanz, which was used as a source of building materials.