Russia 1778-EM 5 kopeks
This specimen was lot 4402 in Goldberg sale 104 (Los Angeles, June 2018), where it sold for $48. The catalog description[1] noted, "Russia. 5 Kopecks, 1778-EM. Catherine II. PCGS graded AU-50. From the Ora Eads Collection." 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 over 2,400 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. The second specimen was lot 140 in Sincona sale 84 (Zürich, October 2023), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted,
"RUSSIA Russian Empire and Federation, 5 Kopecks 1778, Avesta Mint. Extremely rare. 200 roubles according to Ilyin. NGC XF45 BN.
"During the Russian-Swedish War of 1788-1790, 5 Kopecks coins were minted at the Swedish mint and served as payment for Russian workers in the border regions. There were 5 Kopecks coins minted in 1788 with the dates 1764, 1778, and 1787. Sweden claimed that these were coins captured from Russian ships and not "counterfeit money". This war coinage is one of the most interesting phenomena in monetary history and one of the most popular rarities in Russian and Swedish numismatics."
This specimen was offered again as lot 1104 in Sincona Auction 100 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 20,000 CHF (about US$30,144 including buyers' fees).
Recorded mintage: 47,142,000.
Specification: 51.2 g, copper.
Catalog reference: Bit-236; KM C-59.3. the second specimen is KM C59a, Bitkin 1287 (R3). Delzanno 129. AAH 107.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 104: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2018.
- 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.
- [2]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 84, Russian Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
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