Russia 1872-EM 1/4 kopek
This specimen was lot 1823 in Sincona sale 63 (Zürich, June 2020), where it sold for 130 CHF (about US$163 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA | Russian Empire and Federation | Alexander II. 1855-1881, 1/4 Kopeck 1872, Ekaterinburg Mint, EM. Extremely fine." This type was struck at Ekaterinburg and St. Petersburg 1867-81. It is the smallest denomination struck by the tsarist regime and was commonly called a polushka. The SCWC reports that the weight was reduced from 3 g to 0.80 g in 1894 but the weight of this specimen suggests that the reduction occurred quite a bit earlier, perhaps in 1850.
Recorded mintage: 542,000.
Specification: 3 g, copper, this specimen 0.89 g.
Catalog reference: KM Y7.1, Bitkin 447.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 63: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2020.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
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