Russia 2 Kopeks - 1812

Nice strike and preservation on this 1812 HM/EM issue 2 Kopeks, the year of Napoleon's Defeat in Russia. The HM is the mint official Nicholai Mundt and the EM is the mintmark of Ekaterinburg. Type 3 Eagle.
In Russia, the double-headed eagle is one of the nation’s most prominent national symbols, although there are several theories behind the meaning of this unusual creature. Some historians theorize that in 1497, when Ivan III borrowed the idea of the two-headed eagle from the Byzantines, he wanted to associate himself with the power of the fallen empire. From then on, the double-headed eagle was often employed by the monarchy and frequently featured on coronation regalia. However, since the two heads face different directions, it’s widely believed that the double-headed eagle represents the geographical position of Russia, as it spans from the Baltic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west.
This was struck in the year of 1812, the same year as the Battle of Borodino. You can read the history and see the coins at this: http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/frame.php?i=747102&p=&pn=&ver=html5