Russia 1755-MMA kopek
This specimen was lot 66 in Sincona sale 65 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 200 CHF (about US$263 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Kopeck 1755, Red Mint, MMD. Overstruck on 5 Kopecks of Anna. 0.75 roubles according to Petrov. Very fine. (Копейка 1755, Красный МД, ММД. Перечекан с 5 копеек Анны Иоанновны. 21,31 г. Герасимов 72. Биткин 381. 0,75 рубля по Петрову. Состояние очень хорошее.) In the production version coin alignment in Russia was used only on Elizabeth "cloud" coins. This is due to the fact that the images on the stamps on both sides have the shape of a triangle and with this installation the load on the dies is significantly reduced and increases their life. (В России в массовом выпуске такое соотношение сторон (соостность 180 градусов) использовалось только на елизаветинских «облачных» монетах. Это связано с тем, что изображения на обеих сторонах имеют форму треугольника, и при такой установке нагрузка на штемпели значительно снижается и увеличивается срок их службы.")
The second specimen was lot 244 in Sincona sale 78 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 375 CHF (about US$450 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted, "RUSSIA | Russian Empire and Federation | Elizabeth, 1741-1761, Kopeck 1755, Red Mint, MMD. 0.75 rouble according to Petrov. Extremely fine. Traces of overstrike." This type was struck 1755-57 at Moscow (shown here), St. Petersburg and Ekaterinburg. The weight was reduced to 4 g in 1757 then raised to 10.24 g in 1763. Many edge varieties exist but don't show in the images on display here.
Recorded mintage: 8,850,000.
Specification: 20.48 g, copper; the first specimen 21.31 g, the second specimen 18.27 g.
Catalog reference: KM C3.2, Gerasimov 72. Bitkin 381.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part II (1740-1917), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- Brekke, B. F., The Copper Coinage of Imperial Russia, 1700-1917, New York, Galerie des Monnaies, 1977, with 1987 supplement.
- Harris, Robert P., Guidebook of Russian Coins, 1725 to 1970, Santa Cruz, CA: Bonanza Press, 1971.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 65, Russian Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2020.
- [2]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 78, Russian Coins and Medals, The Grigoriy Stakhorsky Collection, Part 1 and other Properties, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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