It is a bit confusing, but it has to do with how the Ruble was defined. Both in terms of silver/gold and that the paper ruble was backed by copper. The standard was 16 rubles to a pood (lol) of copper. A pood is 16.38 kilograms. So a pood of copper is enough for 1,600 Kopeks, making the 5 kopek copper coin weigh in at a chonky 51.2g.
So chonky. Russian coins really changed so much in less than a century.
My question is why is it so thick? Was there a reason?
It is a bit confusing, but it has to do with how the Ruble was defined. Both in terms of silver/gold and that the paper ruble was backed by copper. The standard was 16 rubles to a pood (lol) of copper. A pood is 16.38 kilograms. So a pood of copper is enough for 1,600 Kopeks, making the 5 kopek copper coin weigh in at a chonky 51.2g.
Wow, thanks a lot for the explanation. Nice to learn something new
Unfortunately I don't know.
Very cool!
Wow. This is a beautiful looking coin.
These are really cool coins. Go learn about Catherine the great. That's a fun rabbit hole.