96 Kopecks - Elizabeth Novodel, Saint Petersburg obverse die

The 96-kopeck denomination was a short-lived experiment tied to the Dutch-influenced monetary reforms of mid-18th century Russia, intended to facilitate trade with the Baltic provinces where different accounting conventions applied. Elizabeth's government abandoned the denomination almost immediately, making original strikes exceptionally rare. Novodels — official restrike specimens produced by the Saint Petersburg Mint for collectors, typically in the 19th century — exist precisely because demand for these rarities outstripped the surviving originals.

The "obverse die" designation in the Bitkin reference distinguishes this novodel by which original production die was paired in its restrike, a distinction that matters for specialists tracking die marriages across the novodel series.