1763 Russia 5 Kopeks Catherine II

The 1763 Catherine II 5 kopeks weighs over 100 grams, a hulking mass for a coin worth just five kopeks.

Struck from pure copper at the St. Petersburg mint, it reflects the empress's efforts to reform Russia's currency after the Seven Years' War. The obverse shows Catherine's monogram, while the reverse bears the imperial eagle—simple designs that prioritized production over artistry. Mintage figures for this year are unknown, likely destroyed in the 1838 fire at the mint archives.

Variations exist due to die wear, with some specimens showing off-center strikes. That's common for coins of this era, when machinery was rudimentary. If you're handling one, note the edge is plain, not reeded, which made them easy targets for clipping.

Plenty of myths circulate about these being cursed or hidden treasures. They're not.