Russia 1891-SP 1/4 kopek
This specimen was lot 73449 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, June 2020), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 1/4 Kopek, 1891-CNB. St. Petersburg Mint. Alexander III. NGC MS-65 Brown. A deep red-brown Gem, presenting sharp features and highlights around the devices." 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: 400,000.
Specification: 0.80 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM Y29; Bit-214.
- 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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