俄羅斯鬍子代幣：政府越權的象徵

在我的硬幣收藏中，我擁有一枚銅幣，我發現它不可能不讓人想起拜登政府的最後四年。

In my coin collection, I own a copper piece that I find impossible to look at and not think about the last four years of the Biden administration. The piece (an early 18th century replica of an original that would have cost me thousands of dollars to obtain) is called a “Russian beard token.” The obverse side displays: nose, mustache, lips, and beard, and a caption that translates “money taken.” The brainchild behind the beard token was Czar Peter I of Russia.

在我的硬幣收藏中，我擁有一枚銅幣，我發現它不可能不讓人想起拜登政府的最後四年。這件作品（我要花費數千美元才能買到的一件 18 世紀早期的原件複製品）被稱為「俄羅斯鬍鬚代幣」。正面顯示：鼻子、鬍鬚、嘴唇和鬍鬚，以及翻譯為「錢被拿走」的標題。鬍子標誌背後的創意是俄國沙皇彼得一世。

Peter I of Russia had big plans for his country and, since he was the Czar, he could do as he pleased. So, in the name of progress, reform, and modernization, he decided his citizens could use a fashion makeover. Peter believed that Western Europeans were the cat’s pajamas and that if he could get Russian men to remove their much-loved traditional beards they would look like (and therefore think like) the close-shaved superior men of Western Europe. Despite the religious connection that Russian men (and the Russian Orthodox Church) held for beards, the Czar banned them anyway. Russian men did have an alternative, of course. If one wanted to show off his hairy face he would have to pay a yearly beard tax.

俄羅斯的彼得一世對他的國家有宏偉的計劃，而且由於他是沙皇，他可以為所欲為。因此，以進步、改革和現代化的名義，他決定他的公民可以進行時尚改造。彼得相信西歐人就是貓的睡衣，如果他能讓俄羅斯男人去掉他們深受喜愛的傳統鬍鬚，他們就會看起來（因此也認為是）西歐剃光頭的高級男人。儘管俄羅斯男人（和俄羅斯東正教）認為蓄須與宗教有關，但沙皇還是禁止留鬍子。當然，俄羅斯男人確實有其他選擇。如果一個人想炫耀他多毛的臉，他就必須每年繳納鬍鬚稅。

Starting around 1700, a Russian beard token was issued to every man who paid his beard tax so that he could prove he was in obedience to the law. So to be easily spotted by the authorities the token was usually worn around the neck. To not have it on your person, or to not be in lockstep with the Peter I edict, would result in the humiliation of a public shaving by the police.

從 1700 年左右開始，俄羅斯向每個繳納鬍鬚稅的男子發放鬍鬚代幣，以證明自己遵守法律。因此，為了容易被當局發現，令牌通常戴在脖子上。如果你不把它戴在身上，或不遵守彼得一世法令，就會導致被警察當眾剃毛的羞辱。

The token, to me, represents government overreach at its worst: anti-individualism and a push to conformity, antireligion, antifreedom of choice, antifreedom of expression, and overtaxation. You could see why it reminds me of four years of President Joe Biden.

對我來說，這個代幣代表了政府最糟糕的越權行為：反個人主義和推動順從、反宗教、反選擇自由、反言論自由和過度徵稅。你可以明白為什麼它讓我想起了喬·拜登總統的四年。

Interestingly, despite his many austere measures, Czar Peter I is often referred to as Peter the Great. This is mainly because he managed to make Russia a formidable nation on the world scene, which was certainly his intention. This, in contrast, to President Joe the Pathetic, who has always seemed intent on weakening his own nation -- even as he exits the world scene.

有趣的是，儘管沙皇彼得一世採取了許多嚴厲措施，但他仍經常被稱為彼得大帝。這主要是因為他設法使俄羅斯成為世界舞台上的強大國家，這當然是他的意圖。這與可悲的喬總統形成鮮明對比，他似乎總是一心想削弱自己的國家——即使他退出了世界舞台。

So glad to see you go Joe. Don’t let the White House door hit you hit you on the way out.

很高興看到你走了，喬。不要讓白宮的門在你出去的時候撞到你。