Catherine II 10 Kopeks

Catherine II's 10 kopeks coins were struck from copper mined in the Ural Mountains, a resource that fueled Russia's economic expansion during her rule.

These pieces, minted between 1762 and 1796, typically featured a simple imperial eagle on the reverse, reflecting the era's straightforward design ethos. Variations in weight and edge details arose from the challenges of producing them at multiple mints, including St. Petersburg and Ekaterinburg.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that period were often incomplete or destroyed in later conflicts. Still, they circulated widely as the backbone of everyday transactions in a growing empire.

One dry observation: Enthusiasts might call them "portable anvils," given their heft, but that's only if you're out of shape.