Hi, I am new to the list and am an archaeologist rather than coin collector. I am working with a metallurgist to study the chemistry of Russian copper from different periods during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. We figure that the best way to do this is through dated copper coins. Thus, I have been purchasing a few low grade but legible coins for this purpose. I am wondering if any of you can enlighten me on the sources of Russian copper? Would the coins minted in Siberia have used a different copper source from those minted in European Russia? Were there multiple sources in each region? Thanks.
I'm not too sure if you are aware that there is a literature published on this matter. I cannot remember it off the top of the head (maybe Uzdenikov?) but it is well known that early Russian copper coin in particular Siberian coins actually had higher traces of silver and gold. Main source of Siberian raw material (ore) came from the Urals. Hence this is the reason why Siberian copper coins had different weight standard compared to the rest of Russian coinage. It also depends how extensive you want to take this - there is also a literature on Sadagura coin (1772 - 1774) which was struck on captured Turkish gun metal.
Furthermore when coins were specifically minted for Siberia from 1764-1781 they were believed to have had trace amounts of silver in them because the mint in Suzun didn't have the capacity to refine out the trace silver from the copper. That is purported to be the reason the Siberian coins were smaller than their Russian counterparts. The mints in Sankt Peterburg and Moscow were using locally sourced copper from western Russia - the mint in Suzun was using it's locally sourced copper also. Seeing if this works: Well, not really since it shrunk the image At least this image should be seeable;
