Kopeck - Peter I

Peter I introduced the kopeck as a silver denomination in 1704–1705 as part of his sweeping monetary reform, the first systematic overhaul of Russian coinage since the medieval period. The reform decimalized the ruble into 100 kopecks, replacing the chaotic wire-money system that had persisted for centuries. These tiny silver pieces — struck on irregular hand-cut planchets in the old wire-money tradition — represent the awkward transitional moment when reformed policy met unreformed production methods.

The mint had not yet adopted screw-press technology for small denominations in 1705, so planchet preparation remained essentially medieval.