Russia 1776-EM 5 kopeks
This specimen was lot 71535 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, February 2020), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 5 Kopeks, 1776-EM. Ekaterinburg Mint. Catherine II. PCGS MS-61 Brown Gold Shield. A large copper with fine design detail and dark chocolate patina. Ex: Kunker Auction 150 Lot #2544." This type was struck 1763-96 in the Ekaterinburg mint for circulation in Russia during the reign of Catherine the Great. Hundreds of millions were issued between the Annensk, Moscow, Sestroretsk, Kolyvan, Ekaterinburg (shown here) and St. Petersburg mints. This date from this mint consumed nearly 1,117 metric tons of copper. Many survive today but few in choice condition. Russia has the distinction of being the first country to issue decimal currency, as 100 kopeks = one ruble.
Recorded mintage: 21,454,000.
Specification: 51.2 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM-C59.3; Bit-625.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The February 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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