Found, coin that let men keep a beard

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have discovered an exceptionally rare copper token that men had to buy under Peter the Great – if they wanted to keep their beards.

Minted in 1699, the coin (pictured) was part of a ‘beard tax’ imposed soon after he returned to Russia from a trip to Britain to learn about Western life.

It was found among a haul of 5,000 old coins and only one other is thought to exist.