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 Replies: 15 / Views: 420 |
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New Member
Ukraine
10 Posts |
Hello everyone, I would like to ask for your expert opinion on this coin: USSR 5 Kopeks 1956. I suspect it might be a special strike or possibly an undocumented variety. Please check the attached photos carefully. I have already asked on Ukrainian numismatic forums (like Violity), but they confirmed only the standard type. However, I believe there are visible differences in the details of the design. Could you share your thoughts: do you see any differences compared to the standard 1956 5 Kopeks? Could this be a special strike or a new variety? Any feedback or references to catalogs would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!     |
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Moderator
 United States
187539 Posts |
 to the Community! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6501 Posts |
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New Member
 Ukraine
10 Posts |
  Here is a side-by-side comparison of two 1956 5 Kopeks. On the left: standard sickle (curved). On the right: my coin with a straight/aligned sickle. This is the difference I am seeing compared to the usual type. Do you think this could indicate a special strike or an undocumented variety? |
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New Member
Ukraine
10 Posts |
   Looking closely near the star, the wheat stalks appear different. On the standard coin, they are more curved and angled. On my coin, they look straighter and more aligned. This detail, together with the straight sickle, makes me think it could be a different die or possibly a new variety. |
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
1062 Posts |
Look basically the same as the Numista coin to me. Just a little more worn.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
3831 Posts |
There is a catalog that documents varieties of Soviet coins. I struggle to tell the differences...
My partial coin collection http://www.omnicoin.com/collection/gxseriesMy numismatics articles and collection: http://www.gxseries.com/numis/numis_index.htmRegularly updated at least once a month. |
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New Member
Ukraine
10 Posts |
Thank you for your feedback.
I understand it may look similar to the Numista coin, but I believe there are some differences beyond wear.
For example, near the star the wheat stalks appear straighter, and the sickle looks aligned rather than curved.
Do you think these details could be explained only by wear, or might they suggest a different die?
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New Member
Ukraine
10 Posts |
Yes, I know there is a catalog (for example, Fedorin's catalog) that documents Soviet coin varieties.
I also find it difficult to tell the differences sometimes, but in this case I notice two details:
- The sickle looks straight/aligned instead of curved.
- Near the star, the wheat stalks appear straighter compared to the usual type.
That is why I suspect this might be a different die or possibly an undocumented variety.
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Moderator
United States
94666 Posts |
They both look that same to me  If there are differences, they are extremely subtle. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7933 Posts |
I would not rule out a different die.
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New Member
Ukraine
10 Posts |
Thank you for the comments. I have not sent the coin for certification yet, since it would cost $260. I prefer to wait for more expert opinions first to see if there are solid grounds for a rare variety.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7933 Posts |
Personally, I don't consider a minor die variety rare, but I don't know the Russia collector market. And $260 is rather steep for a "long shot." The more I look, the less sure I am it is different. As mentioned by Dearborn, any changes are very slight. Possibly even a slightly different camera angle could give the effect of less curvature in the sickle. Here are your two high magnification images side-by-side:  Edited by tdziemia
04/17/2026 8:25 pm
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New Member
Ukraine
10 Posts |
Thank you for the comments. I would like to clarify that the angle of photography is definitely not the issue — I took photos from different perspectives, and the sickle on my coin always appears the same, straighter/aligned. This consistency across all images convinces me that the difference is real. Moreover, Fedorin's catalog states that only one standard type of the 1956 5 Kopeks is documented. That is why I suspect my coin might be from a different die or possibly represent a new variety.
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New Member
Ukraine
10 Posts |
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New Member
Ukraine
10 Posts |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 420 |
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Posted 04/15/2026 12:19 pm
