The Russian levy Peter the Great introduced in 1698 on men who kept beards was the Beard tax.
Peter used the measure as part of a broader campaign to westernize Russian society and the appearance of its elite. He favored Western European clothing and grooming styles, while traditional beards were associated with older Russian customs. Men who wanted to retain their beards had to pay, and they received a token showing that the charge had been paid.
The tax did not apply identically to every social group. Nobles, merchants, officials, and other urban men faced the charge, while peasants generally paid when entering towns. The tokens commonly featured a beard and a Russian inscription warning that the bearer had paid.
The Beard tax is often described as a tax on facial hair, but its larger purpose was social engineering. Peter used taxation, dress rules, and military reforms together to push Russia toward European models.