Coin Pièce Russian Federation 5 kopeks Copper Catherine II 1780 EM Ekaterinbourg

This 5 kopeks coin was issued in 1780 during the reign of Catherine II, Empress of Russia. Struck at the Ekaterinburg mint, identifiable by the mintmark EM (???????????????? ??????), it belongs to an iconic monetary series of the Russian Imperial period of the 18th century.

The coin is entirely made of copper, a metal characteristic of Russian divisional coinage of this era. With a diameter of 42 mm and a weight of 46.22 grams, it is a particularly imposing coin, reflecting the Russian monetary policy that required the intrinsic metal value to be proportional to the face value.

The obverse of this coin traditionally features the imperial monogram of Catherine II, surmounted by an imperial crown, surrounded by ornaments characteristic of the style of the period. The reverse displays the face value of 5 kopeks as well as the year of issue 1780, framed by decorative motifs typical of Ekaterinburg mint strikes, with the initials EM clearly identifying the minting facility.

The mintage of this issue was particularly high, reaching 51,007,040 specimens, reflecting the significant need for divisional coinage within the Russian Empire during this period. The Ekaterinburg mint, located in the Urals, had privileged access to the region's mining resources, making it one of the main centers of copper coin production in Imperial Russia throughout the 18th century.