5 Roubles - Elizabeth Pattern, Novodel

Novodels of this type were produced at St. Petersburg in the late 18th and 19th centuries to supply the growing European collector market — demand the Imperial Mint met deliberately, manufacturing "restrike" patterns of earlier issues with whatever dies remained or could be re-engraved. The original 1755 pattern itself was never approved for circulation; Elizabeth's five-rouble coinage in gold was already established, and this denomination in this format appears to have been an exploratory strike for court review.

Diakov's R4 rarity rating reflects genuine scarcity even among novodels. The Uzdenikov novodel designation confirms its non-contemporary manufacture.