EXPOSITION 'TREASURES AND ANTIQUITIES OF THE MOSCOW KREMLIN'

The exposition 'Treasures and Antiquities of the Moscow Kremlin' comprises monuments and artefacts, found during archaeological excavations in the Moscow Kremlin territory, as well as those related to the history of treasuries of the Russian sovereign’s, noble people, and monasteries. The exhibition is of high historical and artistic value through the quantity of the presented masterpieces of the 12th-17th centuries. It was the time when Moscow first developed into a stable and prosperous appanage principality, in the 14th century – into a capital of the Grand Principality, and later on has become the center of the whole Russian state. The museum is opened on the basement floor of the Annunciation Cathedral, which served for preserving the Great Princes' and Tsars' treasury many centuries ago.

Over 1500 items, comprehensively showing the contents of the Kremlin treasury houses and treasures once hidden in the Kremlin, demonstrate the high social status, economic potential and extensive trade links of their former owners. The collection includes pieces of jewellery, arms and armour, ingots, and silver and gold coins.

The display is divided into several sections. The section worthy of particular attention is the one dedicated to the art of jewellery of the 12th-13th centuries. About 250 rare items derived from the treasures found during archaeological excavations in the Moscow Kremlin territory, include silver pieces of jewellery, sacred objects and domestic utensils of the Byzantium and Russian pre-Mongolian period.

The collection of arms and armour of the 12th-13th centuries present some tragic chapters history of the Moscow Kremlin—a medieval fortress, which witnessed internecine strife and foreign invasion, when people were forced to hide their most valuable belongings—arms, jewellery, ingots and money— in the ground.

A remarkable numismatic collection of silver ingots, gold and silver Russian and foreign coins incorporates rare items derived from the Kremlin’s treasuries of the Moscow Tsars and Princes, Russian noblemen, monasteries, as well as underground storages of the Moscow Kremlin and Treasury Administrative Office. It gives an opportunity to trace the history of the Russian monetary system, the development of various types of money through several historical periods, particular importance of several types of coins and extensive trade relations of the Moscow state.

The 'Treasure Troves of the 14th-17th centuries' accomplishes the display, familiarizing with some original treasures of ancient coins and payment ingots found on the Moscow Kremlin territory.

The opening of the exposition "Treasures and Antiquities of the Moscow Kremlin" became an important event in the cultural life of Russia as it presents precious centuries-old collections of the Kremlin — a fortress, a political and cultural center of the country.