Imperial Russian Tsar Nicholas II Coronation Blood Cup

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A rare enameled beaker made as a souvenir of the 1896 coronation of Imperial Russias last monarchs, Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra Feodorovna. One side of the beaker features the Imperial doubled-headed eagle and the reverse shows the imperial cipher. The remainder of the body is decorated with traditional Russian strapwork. The beakers were to be given away to the public on the Khodinka field in Moscow. When the gates were opened, there was a great rush to get to the cups and hundreds of people were trampled to death. Shortly after, this cup became known as the Blood Cup or Cup of Sorrows. The incident was thought at the time to be a bad omen for the future of the reignan estimation that ultimately proved correct. These beakers are often in very bad condition, but this one is nearly mint, with just the tiniest bit of wear the gilding on the lip. Origin: Russia, 1896. Size: 4-1/8 tall.