sigistenz

That is very interesting! Thank you Steve for taking the time to establish the data. I appreciate it very much. I am astonished that the 1760MM is not as rare as I had expected. I had expected the 1760 rarer than the 1758 - but you found that the 1760 is seen twice as much as the 1758! Not to speak of Petrov or Ilyin who quoted the 1760MM much higher than the 1758MM, here's what recent catalogs say for VF in $$: Bitkin 2003: 1758MM 15 1759MM 25 (which of course is wrong as the 1758MM is scarcer than the 1759MM) 1760MM 50 1761MM 70 Yusupov 2004 1758MM 30 1759MM 30 (but the 1758MM is scarcer than the 1759MM) 1760MM 40 1761MM 80 Konros 2012 1758MM 70 1759MM 40 1760MM 90 1761MM 175 Wolmar 2012 1758MM 45 1759MM 35 1760MM 45 1761MM 120 With the exception of Wolmar the others quote 1760MM higher than the 1758MM Regards, Sigi -

Hi Josh, good to hear from you again - and thank you for grading it BU. The coin is darker in hand, more even in color. My picture had to be brightened to make details visible. I don't like the raw planchet but it's a difficult coin. Best, Sigi

Yes indeed, I'm sorry I don't know how to edit the title. Sigi Edit: found it now - thanks to bobh

This is my latest acquisition - 5kop1760MM - it weighs a heavy 63.6 grams which means ~25% overweight! For the Moscow standard of the time it is pretty well struck (look at St.George) but sadly enough somewhat corroded. I would grade it a bold U+ (Ugly plus). Sigi

Yes I sent him the coin back. He settled things with eBay. Sigi

Very well said, Eugene. Sometimes it helps to contact the seller diplomatically, appealing to his reputation, giving to understand that eBay has not yet been informed about it (of course eBay is no real threat but not every seller is aware of it). Of course you will find eBay always at the seller's side as eBay lives on the sellers' sale fees and on the sellers' paypal fees. They do not make a penny from the buyer. I have seen sellers withdraw their fake after such a step of mine. Not all sellers of fakes are dishonest. Some are just careless or don't know. Such a person would hopefully become reluctant buying fakes as his merchandize. The eBay dealer has to buy his stuff before selling it. As you say we have to deal with a Trash n' Treasure market. "Beware of Fakes" is not posted but must be in our minds. Sigi -

Nothing for me there this time Sigi -

see genuine pieces in the link below. http://www.m-dv.ru/c...563/prohod.html -

Hi, owning a Siberian 10kop1769KM I wondered whether it was Brekke 503 larger cipher or Brekke 504 smaller cipher. They are not pictured there. Well, what I had is the smaller cipher as I know now. Today I received the larger cipher variant. True, it is not a gem but it is rarer than the smaller cipher. I viewed the eight 1769s pictured in the 62 Elmen catalogs over more than 30 years, including the Brekke collection. There are 7 small ciphers and only 1 large cipher. See both variants below. Sigi -

Yes it must be the same coin as can be seen from the green spotting. In my opinion the coin is a galvano. -

Eugene, you are right! After comparison of the 2 side by side I think now too, that it must be the very same coin. In hand in my opinion it was a galvano. Sigi

I don't trust that coin - slab or no slab. We've seen what the slabbers are capable of. At the time being you just have to have a coin in your hand. Naked, to examine it closely, including the edge. See below a 10kop1762 offered at a West European auction (not in sixbid, very far from Greece). I had gone there for this coin but in hand it looked very fake. I said so and went home. It then was sold €960. Compare the little damage in field south of the scepter to the eBay coin.. And that one is slabbed... Sigi

The slabbers just adopted the paying customer's wishful thinking. In fact the coin is clearly EM - as can be seen from the ciphers 2 (of 2 kopek and 1862). Both coins are depicted in Michailovich and can be compared there . The ciphers 2 are very different with BM and EM. Just another mistake of the slab industry - but who cares anymore? Sigi

Despite of what the books say, the Siberian 1771KM 10 kopek is a rare coin. It was the only date Brekke did not have in his collection. In my 40 years of experience I have never seen one in this grade. Slight variations of design within any date occur (position of letters, lenght of sable's tail, etc.). The coin looks credible. But it was in very bad company, with all the offers of the seller declared fakes (see thread "eBay watch"). The seller was nice enough to send the coin on approval. The weight of 65.85 grams is OK . The edge doesn't show the slightest trace of wear which is suspicious. The color is not quite normal (pure copper? lacking the usual share of precious metal?). The 2 black spots on the monogram side look intentional. Would they hide some white metal core? An examiation of the metal composition could answer these questions. As has been said in Russian forums (see the "eBay watch" thread), we have to deal with a new generation of Siberia fakes. Are the grading companies (and their clients) aware....... ? See my pictures below. Sigi P.S: At the same time the seller offered (and sold $465) an equally nice 10kop1781KM - equally credible and from different dies, !! scan above - photo below -

That's been long awaited! I have been looking forward to that. Sigi -

Yes Josh, a clear 1795/4 - these are seen pretty often and are not worth mentioning. My point was the other coin with its strange averse. Sigi

On the lower picture see my latest acquisition The top crown looks repaired, the eagle has biceps, "M" of mintmark and orb crush the scroll. It looks as if a worn down die had to be mended. Probably because there was no replacement die on hand. Sigi

Also from Prague, Czech Republic, also offering as "Rassia" (which is not the Czech word for Russia or Russian) probably the same seller. Sigi -

Will do, of course, Sigi In his offer, the seller did not accept returns. As I wrote him about the suspicion he agreed to send me the coin on approval. I promised him to pay it or send it back. The coin is in the mails now. Sigi

Hi, as you know I am the "winner" of the Siberian 10kop1771KM. I haven't paid yet. I obtained from the seller that he sends it to me on approval. I hope to soon hold it in hand for close examination. Sigi -

Thank you my friends for opening my eyes! It is still hard to understand - so convincing are the pictures. And I am not a beginner. As to imitations - what is there still to come? Thank you all again, you saved me money! Sigi -

Thank you dear friend for opening my eyes It is a wonder that I had not paid yet, as I normally do instantly. Sigi

I just won a Siberia 10 kop.1771KM from ebay seller direktorsssr. I was just going to pay it. But now I read in the ebay watch thread that all his coins are fake. To me the pictures looked absolutely convincing. Could the coin be fake? I do not want to buy a fake - on the other hand I will stay an honest eBayer. Please let me know your opinion. Thank you, Sigi See eBay link below http://www.ebay.com/...cvip=true&rt=nc -

I just won this coin from that seller. In my opinion it looks real - or what do you think. I was just about to pay for it. Take a look, thank you, Sigi http://www.ebay.com/itm/Imperial-Rassia-10-Kopeek-1771-KM-Siberian-big-coins-Ekaterina-II-Original-/330854980373?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&nma=true&si=dilLj836ddDAkZAdnfrFVLrB%2BHQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Hi, I collect that fascinating series, congrats for your great coin, it's nicer than mine (see link below). Double strikes are often seen. The tools wore out from minting those large coins. Sigi -