1910 Russia 5 Kopeks

This 1910 5 Kopeks coin was struck at the Saint Petersburg Mint, one of the few Russian issues that year without the common die cracks plaguing earlier productions.

Made from copper-nickel, it entered circulation as a workhorse for the empire's daily transactions. The obverse bears Nicholas II's monogram, a simple Cyrillic "HII" that collectors sometimes mistake for a secret code. The reverse shows the double-headed eagle, its wings spread wide over a value that barely covered a loaf of bread.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that era suffered losses during the 1917 Revolution. Still, examples turn up frequently in hoards, suggesting they were churned out by the millions.

Plenty survive in worn condition, which might explain why they're often ignored in favor of flashier imperials.