Russia 1893-SP 1/2 kopek

Stack's Bowers 2021 ANA sale, lot 45648

photo courtesy Stack's Bowers LLC

This specimen was lot 45648 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $288. The catalog description^[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 1/2 Kopek, 1893-CNB. St. Petersburg Mint. Alexander III. NGC MS-65 Brown. A pleasing, boldly struck coin with soft luster and bright mint red bloom in the protected areas." This type was struck 1881-94 in moderate numbers. The SCWC gives the weight as 4 g but 1.6 g is correct.

Recorded mintage: 3,900,000 plus proofs.

Specification: 1.6 g, copper, 16 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-Y30; Bit-202.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
• 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.
• Brekke, B. F., The Copper Coinage of Imperial Russia, 1700-1917, New York, Galerie des Monnaies, 1977, with 1987 supplement.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.

Link to:

• 1888-СПБ ½ kopek
• 1908-СПБ ½ kopek
• Coins and currency dated 1893