Russia (Siberia): copper 10-kopecks of Catherine the Great, 1781-KM, Suzun mint

Russia (Siberia): copper 10-kopeks of Catherine the Great, 1781-KM, Suzun mint

Obverse: crowned "E II" monogram of Empress Ekaterina II within wreath, "K/M" mintmark.
Reverse: СИБИРСКАЯ ∙ МОНЕТА ∙ + ∙ / ДЕ / СЯТЬ∙ / КОПѢ / 1781 (Translation: "Siberian coin, Ten Kopeks"); inscription in crowned cartouche, flanked by two sables.
Issuer: Ekaterina (Catherine) II ("Catherine the Great"), Empress of Russia (1762-1796).
Specifications: Standards for this issue: Copper, 65.5 g, 45 mm diameter, 4 mm thick, medal alignment (↑↑), diagonally reeded edge. Struck at Suzun in Siberia.
Grade: NGC XF40, cert. #3067920-005.
Reference: Krause-Mishler (Craig)-6, Numista-17970.
Provenance: ex-Chris Bower, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ("Chris B" on CoinTalk). From his "WCN" (World Coin Nut) collection.* Acquired in a swap, 16 September 2020.
Notes: 1781 was the final year for Siberian coinage of Catherine the Great, which was used as local money in what was then a remote part of the Russian empire. The design used on the reverse of this coin is echoed by the same coat of arms which is used on the flag of the Suzunsky District today.
Comments: I love big, thick Russian coppers from the 18th century in general, and this Siberian piece in particular is even more interesting. Its size and weight are impressive, and its smooth brown surfaces very appealing. It just barely fits inside the standard sized NGC slab.













024000S

 

Confession: until reading up, I thought those were wolves on there. Didn’t really know what a sable was, aside from some vague notion that people used to make costly fur coats (or artists’ paintbrushes) out of them.

 

I dug up an old thread where someone (you, I believe) was discussing that.