15 Kopecks - Ekaterina II

The 15 kopeck denomination was introduced under Catherine II as part of her 1763 monetary reform, which overhauled the chaotic coinage inherited from the reigns of Elizabeth and Peter III. The .750 fineness reflects a deliberate debasement from earlier silver standards — a fiscal compromise that allowed the treasury to stretch silver reserves while maintaining a convincing circulating coin.

KM#62c specifically corresponds to the later emission of this type, distinguishable from earlier varieties by subtle die and assayer mark differences that collectors track through the Bitkin and Diakov references rather than the Krause attribution alone.