Russia 1899-SP 1/4 kopek
This specimen was lot 24540 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (Newport Beach, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 1/4 Kopek, 1899-CNB. Rosenkranz (St. Petersburg) Mint. NGC PROOF-62 Brown. A charming and shimmering issue, this diminutive piece presents dazzling brilliance of luster along with smooth, mirrored fields. VERY RARE as a proof striking." 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.
Recorded mintage: 8,000,000 (a common date).
Specification: 0.80 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM-Y47.1; Bit-310.
- 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 January 2021 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Oro del Nuevo Mundo and Matt Orsini Collections, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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