Russia 1780-SP 15 kopeks
s specimen was lot 278 in Sincona sale 12 (Zurich, October 2013), where it was withdrawn before the sale. The catalog description[1] noted, "15 Kopecks 1780, St. Petersburg Mint. Unedited original!! Last 2 digits of the date reengraved on die: 80 on 77. Excessively rare or unique!! Very fine-extremely fine. RRR. Only 87 000 pcs struck." The coinage of Russia of the eighteenth century is a confusing and fascinating subject. This type, issued 1767-75 from Moscow and 1778-94 from St. Petersburg, is fairly common but this date is not listed. Catherine the Great began life as an obscure German princess but became czarina after the murder of her husband.
Recorded mintage: 87,000.
Specification: 3.55 g, .750 fine silver, this specimen 3.83 g.
Catalog reference: Bitkin H431 (R3). Severin 2152 var. GM 39.19 var. KM C62b.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
- [1]Auktion 12: the SINCONA Collection, part 2, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2013.
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