Finland 1893-L markka
This specimen was lot 73582 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2022), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "FINLAND. Markka, 1893-L. Helsinki Mint. Alexander III of Russia. NGC MS-65 Prooflike. Intensely polished dies earned this exceptional Markka a Prooflike designation from NGC. Devices on both faces are sharply cameoed, and a hint of peripheral lilac tone demonstrates originality. Fittingly tied with one other for finest known Prooflike specimen in the NGC census." This type was struck by the Tsarist regime 1872, 1874, 1890-93, 1907-08 and 1915. When the Russian empire collapsed in 1917, the Finns obtained their independence. Post war coinage was copper-nickel.
Recorded mintage: 254,000.
Specification: 5.18 g, 0.868 fine silver, 24 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-3.2.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part II (1740-1917), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The February 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins, Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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