IDENTIFYING OVERSTRUCK RUSSIAN COPPER UNDERTYPES: PART II

II. Overstruck Copper Coins of Other Russian Rulers

Although Catherine the Great was the most prolific overstriker of copper coins, she was by no means the first. Earlier monarchs started the practice.

Anna Ivanovna (1730-40)

Under Anna Ivonovna, polushkas (1/4 kopeck) and dengas (1/2 kopeck) were struck over one kopeck pieces of Peter the Great, which were struck in two different weights, 4.1 and 8.19 grams.

1731 Polushka struck over 4.1 gram 1 Kopeck of Peter I

Dengas were struck over the larger 1 kopeck pieces, which were of two types. The two dengas pictured below were struck over the different types (KM 117.1 and KM 118). The two types may be distinguished by the letter style of the inscription

1731 Denga struck over 1704-1718 1 Kopeck, KM 117.1

1731 Denga struck over 1704-1718 1 Kopeck, KM 118

Elizabeth (1741-61)

The next major type often found overstruck is the “Baroque” kopeck of 1755-57 during the reign of Elizabeth. These were struck over five kopeck pieces of the cruciform type minted from 1723-30 under Peter I and Catherine I. In the piece pictured below, the cruciform design is clearly visible. In a twist on the usual situation where the date of the undertype may not be clearly determined, the date of this kopeck is not visible.

1755-57 “Baroque” Kopeck struck over 1723-30 “Cruciform” 5 Kopecks

In 1757, Elizabeth changed the monetary standard so that two kopeck pieces were changed to the weight of the currently circulating one kopeck pieces. Thus, two kopeck pieces of 1757-1762 are often found struck over the old “Baroque” kopecks. As in other overstrikes, the amount of the undertype showing ranges from minimal to large scale. In the piece pictured below, only the date of the undertype is visible, but is sufficient to identify the undertype.

1757 2 Kopecks struck over 1756 “Baroque” Kopeck,
showing only date of the undertype

In this piece, the mintmark as well as some of the clouds design of the undertype is visible.

1758 2 Kopecks struck over 1755-57 “Baroque” Kopeck,
showing mintmark and clouds design of the undertype

The following two kopeck pieces shows not only some of the clouds of the “baroque” kopeck undertype, but also traces of the cruciform five kopeck piece that the kopeck was struck over.

1759 2 Kopecks struck over 1755-57 “Baroque” Kopeck

On this 1757 two kopeck piece, only the tips of the eagle’s wings on the undertype are visible, but, because of its distinctiveness, the undertype is clearly identifiable.

1757 2 Kopecks struck over 1755-57 “Baroque” Kopeck,
showing distinctive wing design of the undertype

For comparison, here is a non-overstruck “Baroque” kopeck:

1755 “Baroque” Kopeck

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE 1797 RECOINING PROGRAM OF CZAR PAUL I OF RUSSIA (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n08a30.html)
IDENTIFYING OVERSTRUCK RUSSIAN COPPER UNDERTYPES: PART I (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n48a22.html)

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