Russia 1898-SP 1/4 kopek
This specimen was lot 72425 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2022), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 1/4 Kopek, 1898-CNB. St. Petersburg Mint. Nicholas II. NGC MS-65 Brown. Incredibly vibrant and glossy, this Gem offers deep brown surfaces that verge upon a violet nature." 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 1894-1900 and 1909-10. 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. Proofs exist.
Recorded Mintage: 8,000,000.
Specification: 0.80 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM Y-47.1; Bit-297.
- 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, The June 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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