1796 Paul I 5 Kopeks

Paul I's 1796 5 Kopeks was struck mere months after he overthrew his mother's regime, a bold move for a ruler who lasted just five years.

This copper coin, minted at the St. Petersburg facility, bears the double-headed eagle and Paul I's cipher. It's unadorned, practical for everyday use in a vast empire. We don't know the exact mintage; records from that era often vanished in fires or wars.

Some specimens show signs of hurried production, perhaps reflecting the chaos of a new reign. If you handle one, note the edge is plain, unlike later issues with inscriptions. Paul I's coins, including this, remind us that even emperors can't mint stability.