GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MONETARY CIRCULATION IN THE SIVERSHCHYNA REGION IN THE 17TH – 18TH CENTURIES

Abstract

The article attempts to analyze the monetary circulation of the Sivershchyna region in the 17th–18th centuries through the treasury and written sources. Money is the basis of the monetary circulation, acting as a measure of value, which allows evaluating goods. At the same time, they serve as a chronicle of the country, a symbol of its history and a carrier of the objective information about the past, becoming an important source for the scientific research. Coins reflect the material commodity-monetary relations of the certain period. Monetary circulation covers the cash flow in the sphere of the circulation and its function as a means of exchange and payment. At the current stage of the development of the Ukrainian historical science, in particular in the field of the numismatics and regional studies, the study of the commodity-monetary relations in the certain regions requires the more detailed and systematic study. Analysis of the history of the commodity-monetary relations in the Hetmanate, in particular in the Sivershchyna region, is of great importance for understanding the economic situation of Ukraine and its regions, both in the past and in the context of the modern processes of the integration of the independent Ukraine into the united European economic and financial space. The study of the monetary circulation of the Sivershchyna region is based on the following: 1) analysis of the works of researchers in numismatics: O. Bakalets’, V. Byelashov, V. Boyko, L. Hvozdyk-Pritsak, D. Kazimirov, A. Klyuyev, M. Kotlyar, S. Lepyavka, I. Spas’ky and others; 2) study of treasure complexes found on the territory of the Chernihiv-Sivershchyna region (Chernihiv, Sumy regions); 3) study of the diary of the main standard-bearer Mykola Khanenko and the diary of the general sub-treasurer Yakiv Markovych, museum and archival funds; 4) study of the regional aspects of the Sivershchyna region. Numismatic researchers created a classification of coins, which allowed them to systematize the finds and track the changes in the monetary circulation over time. Analysing the coins found in the Sivershchyna region made it possible to determine the countries and regions to maintain the economic ties with during the period under study. The study of treasure complexes gave us an idea of which coins were in real circulation among the population, reflecting the actual composition of the money supply. In addition, treasure complexes told us about the social status of their owners: large treasures indicate wealth, and small ones are for everyday savings. Analysis of the treasure complexes helped us to identify the periods of the economic instability, when people hid their savings. Analysis of the treasure complexes made it possible to obtain the information about the trade routes: the places where treasures were found indicate the location of the important trade routes, and the presence of coins of different countries in the treasure confirms the active participation of the Sivershchyna region of that time in the international trade. The analysis of the diaries provided us with the information on the monetary units, as they contain references to various monetary units used in the Sivershchyna region at that time (roubles, kopecks, zlotys, thalers, orts, florins, yefymkas), which allowed us to recreate the picture of the monetary circulation and determine which currencies were in circulation. In addition, the diaries provided us with the information on the prices of various goods and services, which allowed us to assess the level of inflation and the cost of living at that time. The diaries also contain records of various financial transactions (loans, payments, expenses), which allowed us to study the practice of conducting the financial affairs and determine what financial instruments were used. The study of the regional aspects of the Sivershchyna region made it possible to determine the influence of the certain territories on the taxation system and monetary circulation of the Sivershchyna region, to find out what taxes were imposed, and how that affected the economic life of the population.