Russian Coin found at Lugton Water
View of reverse of coin, £2 coin for comparison. Image copyright Rathmell Archaeology Ltd
An unexpected find has been reported to WoSAS by Rathmell Archaeology Ltd. The coin in the photo above was brought to members of the team, currently on site at Kilwinning Abbey as part of the Kilwinning Archaeology Project, for identification by a member of the public, who had found it next to the Lugton Water by Eglinton Castle. The coin is a five Kopeks piece from the reign of Catherine the Great (1762-1796), minted at Ekaterinburg, on the eastern side of the Urals. The mint was active between 1727 and 1876, and was established at Ekaterninburg because of the rich mineral resources present. It is not known how an 18th century Russian 5 Kopeks piece came to be beside the Lugton Water.