File:Russia 1896 25 rubles obv Heritage 3010-21822.jpg

This specimen was lot 21822 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), where it sold for $149,500. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Nicholas II Gold 1896 25 Roubles--Nicholas II Proof gold 25 Roubles (2 1/2 Imperials) 1896 St. Petersburg, Bust left/Crowned Imperial eagle with date and value, Bit 312 (R2), Fr-171, Proof 61 NGC. Fully mirrored fields, with boldly struck details. The surfaces exhibit a few minor marks beneath attractive greenish-gold patina. Much nicer than one might expect for a coin of this grade. This was thought to be a special commemorative issue for the Coronation of Nicholas II. It was issued in a tiny mintage of 301 pieces, of which very few examples are known to survive. This piece, along with the 1908 25 Roubles and the 1902 37-1/2 Roubles, were the largest gold issues of the era in terms of gold weight. All three of these issues have the same gold weight of 32.26 gm of pure gold. One of the classic gold rarities of nineteenth century Russian numismatics."