Siberian Coin 10 Kopecks
1766–1781 ・ copper ・ 18th century ・ Kolyvan (Suzun)
A regional currency struck from Altai copper, which circulated only within Siberia. On the coin's face, two sables support a shield. Eight hundred years after the era when the fur 'kuna' was a unit of currency, the beast of the forest returned to the coin's face as a coat of arms. Because the copper contained residual silver and gold that were not fully removed during refining, it was struck to a lighter weight standard than regular copper coins.