Reading the 5 Kopecks of Elizabeth Petrovna
1741-1761

 

Previously we examined the 5 Kopecks of Catherine the Great. In this article we look at the Copper 5 Kopecks of Elizabeth Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great.

While Elizabeth reigned from 1741 to 1761, the large copper 5 Kopecks discussed here were produced only during the last few years of her reign (1758-1761). Coins bearing Elizabeth’s monogram and dated 1762 were minted posthumously in the year after her death.

 

Reading the Obverse Monogram

The Monogram on the Obverse is more complicated than that of Catherine II.

The Primary design is formed from two interlocking letters, E (Elizabeth) and P (Petrovna…daughter of Peter). Once interlocked, both letters are then mirrored to give the overall design we see on the coin.

The E is fairly obvious to see in the monogram, but the P is more subtle. To help see it we separate the letters out in Figures 2 & 3 below. When interlocked, the body of the P can be seen as a diagonal line that runs though the body of the E. The head of the P however uses the top of the E, a clever trick!

Fig  1: The 5 Kopecks of 1758-1762

Fig. 2 Obverse E and P

Fig. 3 : Obverse E and P Reflected

Reverse

Eagle and Denomination

The reverse of these coins shows the Imperial double eagle and denomination (discussed in the Catherine II article).

 

Mint Mark

Below the talons of the Eagle we may find a mint mark. For Catherine II, there were 7 possible mintmarks (EM being the most common), as well as an eighth possibility, the very rare no-mintmark 5 Kopecks of 1763 and 1765.

For Elizabeth, most of the 5 Kopecks from 1758-1762, including the one shown above, carried no mintmark. Otherwise, the only mintmark produced was MM for the Moscow Mint. The 1758 MM 5 Kopecks is fairly common, but the later MM 5 Kopecks of Elizabeth are increasingly rare. This is summarized in the table below.

 

 

1758

none

Common

1759

none

Common

1760

none

Common

1761

none

Common

[1762]

none [posthumous]

Common

1758

MM

Common

1759

MM

Scarce

1760

MM

Rare

1761

MM

Very Rare


Well, I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Elizabeth Petrovna’s Five Kopeck coins, and that you found it useful. If you did (or didn't!), or if you have further questions or comments, please send me an email at Smoulding(AT)earthlink.net

Article #2 Author: Steve Moulding 04/28/2002


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