Coin Given by the Tzemach Tzedek to Rebbe Rashab

Coin Given by the Tzemach Tzedek to Rebbe Rashab

5-kopek coin given by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch, to his grandson Rebbe Shalom Dov Ber Schneershon, the Rashab.
Copper coin. Obverse: value of the coin, date and place of minting: E.M. Ekaterinburg Mint, 1860. Reverse: coat of arms.
The Rashab received this coin as a child from his grandfather the Tzemach Tzedek (the Rashab was five years old when the Tzemach Tzedek passed away on 13th Nissan 1866).
Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by Rebbetzin Chanah Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift… the 5 Kopka coin my grandfather received as a boy from the Tzemach Tzedek. My grandfather gave it to me as a gift". Dated 12th November 1989. A wooden box which may have also been used by the rebbe or his family is enclosed (the box was given together with the coin, though it is not mentioned in the letter).

Sefer HaSichot 5681 (1921) by the Rayatz mentions the Tzemach Tzedek's custom of giving coins to his grandsons the Rashab and R. Shneur Zalman Aharon, the two sons of his son R. Shmuel Schneersohn (the Maharash): "Every Thursday, my father [the Rashab] would go to the Tzemach Tzedek and receive a pyetok (5 kopek coin)" (ibid., p. 20). In Sefer HaSichot 5691 (1931), the Rayatz relates: "Every day, they would go to the Tzemach Tzedek, recite Shema Yisrael and Baruch Shem, and he would give them a zweyer ]half a kopek["; he also describes how the Tzemach Tzedek once sat his grandson the Rashab on his lap and gave him coins for his Chassidim: "Once, during private audiences… he asked him if he wants money, and the Rashab answered in the negative. He gave him a few coins to give the Chassidim for alcoholic beverages, and the Rashab went out to the Chassidim saying "the Zeyde… gave for buying Mashkeh" (ibid., p. 226. See also Torat Menachem – Diary 1931, pp. 28, 193). Torat Menachem – Reshimat HaYoman 5693 (1933) records: "The Rashab, R. Shneur Zalman Aharon and their sister Devorah Leah would visit the Tzemach Tzedek every day, as young children, in the morning, and the Tzemach Tzedek would give them money" (ibid. pp. 69, 276).
R. Refael Nachman (Fole) Kohen related in the name of his father R. Baruch Shalom Kohen, who heard from R. Menachem Manish (Monye) Moneszon the following episode: "Both sons of the Maharash, i.e. Rebbe Rashab and his brother R. Shneur Zalman Aharon, would visit their grandfather the Tzemach Tzedek every day. On the last time before the passing of the Tzemach Tzedek, R. Shneur Zalman Aharon had some impediment and could not come… the Rashab went in alone to the Tzemach Tzedek. The Tzemach Tzedek would give each one of them every time they visited him a 5-kopek coin. But this time… he gave him a half-ruble saying: You see, this is a Machatzit HaShekel" (Shemuot VeSippurim MeRabbotenu HaKedoshim, part I, p. 78).
Diameter: 36 mm.