Russia 1913-SP EB 15 kopeks
This specimen was lot 990 in Sincona sale 19 (Zürich, October 2014), where it sold for CHF 3,000 (about US$3,760 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "15 Kopecks 1913, St. Petersburg Mint, ЭБ. Very rare as a proof! Cabinet piece. Choice brilliant proof." The fifteen kopeks, a quasi-decimal denomination as ten and twenty kopeks were also minted, was struck in large numbers until the collapse of the regime in 1917. This date is common but the 1913-ЭБ is known only in proof, making it rare. The communists struck a similar coin in .500 silver until 1931.
Recorded mintage: a few proofs.
Specification: 2.7 g, 0.500 fine silver, .043 troy oz ASW, this specimen 2.73 g.
Catalog reference: Bitkin 139 (R1). Severin 4171, KM-Y21a.2.
- [1]Shiryakov, I. V., and Jürg Richter, The Sincona Collection, Part 3 and Russian Coins & Medals from Other Properties, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
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