Horse and rider, mintmark below / Cyrillic inscriptions in 5 lines: "TSAR I VELIKIY KNYAZ BORIS FEYODOROVICH  VSEYA RUSI" ("Tsar and Grand Duke Boris Fyodorovich of All Russia"). 13mm, 0.64 grams. Moscow mint, issued 1600. Grishin #173.

Boris Godunov (c. 1551–1605) was a Russian statesman who became Tsar of Russia from 1598 to 1605, following the death of Tsar Fyodor I, the last of the Rurik dynasty. Originally a trusted advisor and brother-in-law to Tsar Fyodor, Boris effectively ruled as regent during Fyodor's reign and was eventually elected tsar by a national assembly. His rule saw efforts at modernization and administrative reform, but was marred by a severe famine (1601–1603) and growing unrest. His legitimacy was challenged by pretenders, most notably False Dmitry I, leading to instability and the onset of the Time of Troubles. Boris died suddenly in 1605, and his death marked the beginning of a deeper political crisis in Russia.