Russia 1804-EM 2 kopeks
This specimen was lot 42561 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $8,400. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 2 Kopeks, 1804/3-EM. Ekaterinburg Mint. Alexander I. NGC VF-35. A tremendously elusive and EXTREMELY RARE date, this specimen bears a mintage just 20 pieces according to Brekke. Interestingly, none of the references mention an overdate, with this curious example featuring an obverse eagle style used for the 1802 & 1803 issues, with the plated example for 1804 (Bitkin and Brekke plate the same specimen) featuring an updated eagle (most notably in the shape of the wings). The stops on the reverse, however, appear to be the larger "pellet-in-annulet" stops associated with the plated example from 1804. Additionally, a stop is present following the final digit of the date, dissimilar to those of 1802 & 1803. Given its overdate status, and the fact that the smaller stops would be expected, as well as the fact that allegedly just 20 were produced in 1804 (with updated obverse and reverse dies), quite possibly the present specimen is in fact a transitional issue blending the styles of 1802 & 1804 and what was eventually used (if ever so briefly) for 1804. A final aspect that seemingly shares no characteristics with any other observed examples from 1802, '03, or '04 is the dividing line between the denomination and date. On all others, a solid line--or even one that bends slightly upward and downward near the middle--is observed, whereas this example displays a segmented dividing line that is somewhat engrailed to the right. As such, this piece may very well be UNIQUE." This denomination was also struck in copper at Suzun (mintmark KM).
Recorded mintage: 20.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: cf. KM-C114.1 (overdate not mentioned); cf. Bit-309 (R3; same); cf. Brekke-84 (same).
- 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, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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