Russia 1885-SP 1/4 kopek
This specimen was lot 73447 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, June 2020), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 1/4 Kopek, 1885-CNB. St. Petersburg Mint. Alexander III. NGC MS-65 Brown. A stunning Gem proof issue, this violet-brown example features tremendous brilliance and is exceeded in the NGC population report by just two specimens." According to the SCWC, the weight was reduced in 1894 from 3 g to 0.8 g but we think the weight reduction occurred earlier. This type was struck 1881-93. Proofs exist. The production of the copper coinage was farmed out to branch mints in the early and mid nineteenth century but after 1876 St. Petersburg was the sole producer of this denomination, also known as a polushka.
Recorded mintage: 480,000.
Specification: 0.80 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM Y29; Bit-208.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The June 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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