Russia 1887-SP AG 5 kopeks
This specimen was lot 2573 in Goldberg sale 110 (Los Angeles, June 2019), where it sold for $132. The catalog description[1] noted, "Russia. 5 Kopecks, 1887-СПБ АГ. Alexander III. Frosty satin white, bold devices. Superb brilliant mint state. NGC graded MS-66." The Russian government does not seem to have been able to make up its mind whether the five kopeks denomination should be a small silver coin, as here, or a large copper coin. Both were struck during the 1880's. Today, the silver piece is readily available (probably due to hoarding) but the copper type (KM Y12.2) is hard to find in nice condition. This type was struck 1867-1914.
Recorded mintage: 3,000,000.
Specification: 0.90 g, 0.500 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM Y19a.1, Bit-147; Sev-3970.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part II (1740-1917), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- 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]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 110: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2019.
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