Front: Imperial eagle at left

Back: Alexander III (1845-1894), Emperor of Russia 1881-1894

Alexander III was born Alexander Alexandrovich, second son of Alexander II. He became heir to the throne after his elder brother, Nicholas, died in 1865. He came to the throne at the age of 36 when his father was assassinated.

Alexander III's reign coincided with the industrial revolution and the growth of capitalism in Russia. His regime was particularly harsh against revolutionaries and other liberal movements.

Front: Imperial eagle at left

Back: Catherine II (1729-1796), Empress of Russia 1762-1796

Catherine II was born Sophia Augusta Frederica in Poland, daughter of Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst. She married Peter Feodorovich, heir to the Russian throne, in 1745. She was christened into the Orthodox Church as Ekaterina Alexeevna, and quickly mastered the Russian language.

With the support of the Imperial Guard, she overthrew her husband Peter III in 1762, and crowned herself Empress of Russia. Her reign was one of the most prosperous periods in Russian history. She undertook a wide range of political reforms, waged two successful wars against the Ottoman Empire and expended Russia's territories to the Black Sea. She is known as Catherine the Great.

Front: Imperial eagle at left

Back: Peter I (1672-1725), Czar of Russia 1682-1721

Peter was a grandson of Czar Michael Romanov. He was proclaimed Czar in 1682 at the age of 10. However, he had to share his power with his brother Ivan and his sister Sofia until 1696.

During his reign, Peter engineered a series of reforms that were to put Russia among the major European powers. He opened Russia to the West. He invited the best European engineers, shipbuilders, architects, craftsmen and merchants to come to Russia. Hundreds of Russians were sent to Europe to get the best education and learn different arts and crafts. Peter I is known as Peter the Great.