Help identifying Russian coin — Catherine II 1795 (E.M.) unusual weight and size

Hello everyone,

I recently acquired a Russian copper coin dated 1795, with the monogram “E II” (Catherine II) on the obverse and the imperial double-headed eagle with the mintmark E.M. (Ekaterinburg) on the reverse.

However, the coin’s specifications are unusual:

Diameter: 32 mm

Weight: 24.36 g

Metal: Copper

The standard 5 Kopecks of Catherine II usually measure around 41–43 mm and weigh 50–55 g, so this piece is significantly smaller and lighter.

The design matches a 5 Kopecks type, but the size corresponds more closely to that of a 2 Kopecks — although the 2 Kopecks type should show Saint George, not the double-headed eagle.

Any insight, references, or similar examples would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance for your help and expertise.

It's this coin N#8257 just worn down to 32mm.

Sorry, but 10mm worn doesn't exist.

Only 5mm.  

And by weight:

(32X32)/(42X42) X 51.2 = 29.7

No, the difference is too significant, I've never seen that. In addition, the edge has no trace of filing or anything else.

Looks like the same coin for me as well. It might not just be wear, but someone deliberately cut away the edge. Check the remnants of the inner part of the wreath, they're still visible on your coin.

Let's wait for a Russian coin specialist to find out if there are 5 kopek coins minted on modules of other coins.

There are no non precious Russian empire coins that weight around 24-26 grams in Catherine II period.

For coin of that weight to exist, it would have to be nominated at 2.5 kopeks. Not 2 kopeks. Wear does not add 4+ grams of cooper to the coin. Period cooper got that big cause they were counted by weight and lowest denomination cooper set weight requirement for highest denomination. The only weight/existing denomination that fits is 1850-1867 cooper.

So far I could not find any Catherine II, 1795 coins/patterns/novodels that weight 24-26 grams in Bitkin's second tome.

Large copper coins were often reused as washers, gears or other parts to repair machines, and I would suggest this as a possibility here. As you know I'm sure, before the early 1800s there was much less standardization in the dimension of parts. If you needed any replacement part, you most likely had to make it yourself or find a blacksmith to make it. Any large copper disk could potentially be turned into a washer or a gear. The loss of the monetary value was little compared to the value of the machine or device you were making or repairing.

In Canada, the large 2-penny Leslie tokens were occasionally tooled for that reason. Once in a while, too, you see large coppers that were transformed into dough cutters (jagged edges) or buttons (two holes).

Maybe it was intentionaly chipped down and made into a token? Seems like it was clipped until the denomination couldn't be visible.

Interestingly, this is the second Russian coin with weird alteration this week. I don't know why Russians like to deface the coins in a strange ways.

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