Russia 1788-TM 5 kopeks
This specimen was lot 34522 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $1,740. The catalog description[1] noted, "Russia: Catherine II copper 5 Kopecks 1788-TM AU50 Brown NGC, Tauric mint, Obv. Crowned Imperial eagle with orb and scepter. Rev. Crowned monogram divides the date, 17-88. All within wreath. Slight porosity, with all of the details bold for the issue. There seems to be a minor edge flaw on the obverse at 10 o'clock. Rare." This type was struck 1787-88 in the Tauric mint for circulation during the reign of Catherine the Great. Hundreds of millions were issued between the Annensk, Moscow, Sestroretsk, Kolyvan, Ekaterinburg and St. Petersburg mints. Many survive today but few in choice condition; the Tauric mint is rare. Russia has the distinction of being the first country to issue decimal currency, as 100 kopeks = one ruble.
Recorded mintage: 539,000.
Specification: 51.2 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM-C59.4, Bit-856 (R1), Brekke-277.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 201612.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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