1 Kopeck - Nicholas II Pattern; dotted background

In 1917, the 50th anniversary of the minting of the last type of copper coin was celebrated. Probably, in connection with this anniversary date, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Empire began preparations for changing the appearance of coins of lower denominations. In 1916, three variants of trial copper coins were produced, which, obviously, are divided into two groups: with the inscription "copper Russian coin", characteristic of the previous type, and with the inscription "Russian coin". If in the first group today only two denominations of 5 and 1 kopeck are known (and these denominations represent both variants of external design), then the second group consists of 5, 3, 2 and 1-kopeck coins, i.e. the full standard line of denominations. This fact may indicate that, unlike the first, it is the second group of coins that is a breakdown approved for subsequent replication.

Since the main change in the type of coins was probably planned for 1917-18, it would be logical to assume the following sequence of events: at the end of 1916, after the approval of samples of two denominations for circulation, a signal micro-circulation of the entire nominal line of coins with a new design was minted, in 1917 the last micro-circulation of old-style coins was minted, and in 1918 it was supposed to be minted copper coins are only of a new sample. However, the well-known February events have made their own adjustments to these plans. It is likely that the presented 5-kopeck coin is a breakdown, not approved for replication.