Russia / Sweden, Gustaf III, 1771-1792. 5 Kopeks 1787 / 7 EM, Avesta Mint, Brekke 6, Bitkin 1294 (R2), Ilyin 40 Rub., Конрос #180/205, Copper 43 mm, weight 50,41 g., Condition VF, brown patina, minor edge and surface damages. Date overstruck from 1777 to 1787. An extremely rare coin type occasionally found on the numismatic market. A great treat for collectors of Russian and Swedish copper coins.
Swedish wartime issue of Gustav III. During the war between Russia and Sweden in 1788, the Swedish government began to introduce imitations of Russian coins with a face value of 5 kopecks minted at the Avesta mint. Gustav III of Sweden commissioned their production for distribution to his troops in the occupied regions of Russia and the borderlands. To differentiate, the design of the imperial crown was changed to that of the royal crown to make it easier to identify from Russian...