The colonization of Siberia began around 1580, when an expedition of Cossacks overthrew the Sibir Khanate. From now on, Russia quickly spread its power eastwards. Catherine II (1762-1796) was the first of the tsars to issue coins especially for Siberia. This 10 kopeck-coin depicts her monogram on the obverse, while the reverse shows two sables holding a shield with the denomination of the coin.