Russia 1780-KM 5 kopeks
This specimen was lot 33668 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $336. The catalog description[1] noted, "Siberia. Catherine II 5 Kopecks 1780-KM AU53 Brown NGC, Kolyvan mint. Deep chocolate brown color with a distinguished appearance. Far better than most of this type, as the large majority were used in commerce." This type was struck 1763-80 (listed under Siberia) in the Suzun (Kolyvan) mint for circulation in Russia during the reign of Catherine the Great. Hundreds of millions were issued between the Annensk, Moscow, Sestroretsk, Kolyvan, Ekaterinburg and St. Petersburg mints but those intended for general circulation did not feature the martens on the reverse. 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: unknown but a common date.
Specification: 32.8 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM-C5.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part II (1740-1917), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
Link to: