Elizabeth Petrovna 10 Kopeks

One of the most intriguing aspects of Elizabeth Petrovna's 10 kopeks coin is that it was often struck using silver recycled from older foreign coins, a practical measure to address shortages during her wars and expansions.

This silver piece, minted between 1755 and 1762 at the St. Petersburg mint, featured a double-headed eagle on the reverse and the empress's monogram on the obverse. Weights varied slightly, depending on the quality of the recycled metal, which sometimes led to irregularities in the strike. Not every coin came out perfect; that's minting for you.

Exact mintage figures are murky. Records from that era burned in the 1812 fire in Moscow, so we can only estimate based on surviving examples. A few varieties exist, like those with overdates or minor die differences, but they're not common.

As for the design, it echoed Western European influences, a nod to Elizabeth's alliances. Historians quibble over the finer points, as if arguing about it will change the past.