An important gold jeton / charm commemorating the construction of the Kursk – Kiev railroad in 1866-1868.

The jeton belonged to Daniel Polyakov, the only son of Russian railroad baron Samuel Polyakov. Wikipedia:  “(Самуил Соломонович Поляков) was a Russian businessman, informally known as the “most famous railroad king” of the Russian Empire, the senior member of the Polyakov business family, a philanthropist and a Jewish civil rights activist, co-founder of World ORT. Polyakov’s business interests concentrated in southern Russia and Ukraine. By the time of his sudden death at the age of 50 he was credited with the construction of one quarter of Russia’s railroads, his personal net worth was estimated at 31.4 million roubles.”

The jeton is designed in the Russian Revival style of the mid 19th century. The front of the jeton is decorated with the coat of arms of the city of Kiev in the center between the dates ‘1866 – 1868″. The coat of arms is surrounded by engraved name of the railroad. The back side features the coat of arms of Kursk and engraved name of the owner – Daniel Samuelovich Polyakov.

The jeton is marked with 56 zolotnik old Russian gold standard (14K), Moscow assay mark, and maker’s initials ‘AK’.

Weight is 14.04 grams.

The jeton measures (without suspension ring) 42 x 28 mm (1 5/8 x 1 1/8 in.)