TYPE Early Russia, Moscow appanage of Serpukhov, Vassily Yaroslavich (1426-56), silver denga, 0.47g DESCRIPTION . Obv: Facing horseman slaying dragon with a spear, Russian legend [...] ILEI YARO [...] Rev: Prince 3/4 to right, with sword in hand, uncertain figure below, linear and border of dots REFERENCE: Sp 51.14 var., O 743 var.(has rev. legend) GRADING: AVF, off-center, toned, rare ORDER INFO: M1009, $145 Vassily Yaroslavich (considered the 17th generation from Russia's founder Ryurik) ruled semi-autonomously the Serpukhov-Borovsk region in the old tradition of appanages, even uniting some areas previously subdivided. He took part in the failed 1445 defensive campaign against the Tatars along with his lord, Vassily II, which ended in the latter's capture, blinding and further internal unrest. However, a restored Vassily II the Blind, on the pretext of some misbehavior, sacked in 1456 Serpukhov's autonomy along with his namesake, who was to die in prison in 1483.