The Numismatics collection at the Karasuksky’s Regional Museum includes a solid copper five-kopek coin, issued in 1871. These coins were in circulation under Alexander III. It is visually very similar to the five-kopek coin issued under Nicholas I. According to the catalogue “Russian Coins 1700-1917”, this coin was relatively widely used, with total production amounting to 6,300,000 coins.
Traditionally the small State coat of arms was displayed on the coin’s obverse. This coat of arms depicts a two-headed eagle under three crowns, with an orb and scepter. The eagle’s chest displays Moscow’s coat of arts, surrounded by the order of Saint Andrew’s chain. Two patterned ribbons circle around the eagle. The upper ribbon has a raised inscription, reading: “RUSSIAN COPPER COIN”. The lower ribbon has a depressed two-line inscription, reading: “FIVE KOPEKS”. The combination of raised and depressed letters made forgery of this coin more difficult.
In the center of the coin’s reverse, the coin’s face value is shown. Lower down, under a decorative line, there are two letters: “E.M.”. These indicate that the coin was minted at the Yekaterinburg Mint. An arched depressed inscription with the year of issuance is at the top of the coin. The coin’s edge is corded, meaning that there are equally spaced parallel cuts around the coin.
There are other types of edge designs other than this coin’s corded design. Coins can have smooth edges; indented edges; edges with the cuts tilted in one direction and latticed edges, where the cuts point in different directions and form a grid. Often coins with a larger face value had more complicated designs. Later, coin mints learnt how to add inscriptions. The main intention for the edge is to prevent forgery and to stop thieves from cutting off the precious metal. When one coin had to be re-minted as another, the designs were often left alone, but the edge was sometimes re-cut. The different types of edges for coins issued in the same year and with the same face value help to identify the coin and determine how rare it is.
From 1867, all values of copper coins were gradually changed. In addition to changes in the minting and the administration of the mints, techniques were also improved. At the end of the 1850’s, horizontal molds, usually used for casting gold alloys, were replaced by English vertical molds, which lead to cheaper production costs. Boulton’s complex stamping and pressing machines were replaced by Ulhorn’s lever-press machines and automated slotting machines. Rotating Castaing machines were also used.
Traditionally the small State coat of arms was displayed on the coin’s obverse. This coat of arms depicts a two-headed eagle under three crowns, with an orb and scepter. The eagle’s chest displays Moscow’s coat of arts, surrounded by the order of Saint Andrew’s chain. Two patterned ribbons circle around the eagle. The upper ribbon has a raised inscription, reading: “RUSSIAN COPPER COIN”. The lower ribbon has a depressed two-line inscription, reading: “FIVE KOPEKS”. The combination of raised and depressed letters made forgery of this coin more difficult.
In the center of the coin’s reverse, the coin’s face value is shown. Lower down, under a decorative line, there are two letters: “E.M.”. These indicate that the coin was minted at the Yekaterinburg Mint. An arched depressed inscription with the year of issuance is at the top of the coin. The coin’s edge is corded, meaning that there are equally spaced parallel cuts around the coin.
There are other types of edge designs other than this coin’s corded design. Coins can have smooth edges; indented edges; edges with the cuts tilted in one direction and latticed edges, where the cuts point in different directions and form a grid. Often coins with a larger face value had more complicated designs. Later, coin mints learnt how to add inscriptions. The main intention for the edge is to prevent forgery and to stop thieves from cutting off the precious metal. When one coin had to be re-minted as another, the designs were often left alone, but the edge was sometimes re-cut. The different types of edges for coins issued in the same year and with the same face value help to identify the coin and determine how rare it is.
From 1867, all values of copper coins were gradually changed. In addition to changes in the minting and the administration of the mints, techniques were also improved. At the end of the 1850’s, horizontal molds, usually used for casting gold alloys, were replaced by English vertical molds, which lead to cheaper production costs. Boulton’s complex stamping and pressing machines were replaced by Ulhorn’s lever-press machines and automated slotting machines. Rotating Castaing machines were also used.
