Russia 1789-EM 5 kopeks
This specimen was lot 72726 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2019), where it sold for $180. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 5 Kopeks, 1789-EM. Ekaterinburg Mint. Catherine II. PCGS MS-63 Brown Gold Shield. An attractive Dollar size copper issue with lovely rich chocolate patina." 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 and St. Petersburg mints. 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: 25,841,000.
Specification: 51.2 g, copper.
Catalog reference: Brekke-278; KM-C59.3; Bit-643.
- 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.
- Harris, Robert P., Guidebook of Russian Coins, 1725 to 1970, Santa Cruz, CA: Bonanza Press, 1971.
- Brekke, B. F., The Copper Coinage of Imperial Russia, 1700-1917, New York, Galerie des Monnaies, 1977, with 1987 supplement.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The October 2019 Collector's Choice Sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
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