This tradition dates back to the 19th century. It was then that the portrait of Catherine the Great, who was also the grandmother of two Russian emperors, Alexander I and Nicholas I, was first printed on the hundred-ruble note (see carousel). The large hundred-ruble note, which could buy four cows, came to be called the "tsarist grandma". In slang, it was simplified to "grandma". Initially, this money was called "catherinka" or "katinka", but given that the empress was depicted at a quite advanced age, the notes started being called "grandmas". At that time, a hundred-ruble note was considered a whole fortune. An ordinary craftsman or peasant could live their entire life without ever seeing this coveted paper. And for a simple clerk or junior officer, it was an unattainable dream. The portrait of "grandma" hasn't changed since 1866. Soon, any paper money began to be called "grandmas", and later – all money, including small change. No matter what the new money looks like – thousand, five hundred, or ten rubles – for many of our citizens, they remain "grandmas".