Russia 16(54) 1/4 ducat Fr-46
This specimen was lot 21615 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2019), where it sold for $9,600. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Incredible Condition Gold Wire Money, RUSSIA. 1/4 Ducat (1/4 Ugorsky), 16(54). Alexei Mikhailovich. PCGS MS-62 Gold Shield. VERY RARE in this state of preservation. Obverse: Double headed eagle; Reverse: Six-line inscription. A well struck example on an oblong compact planchet. Most of the double-headed Imperial eagle is clear, but portions of the wings and tail are off the flan. Overall a handsome example of a seldom seen type in stellar condition. Though not intended for circulation, the gold issues of Alexei Mikhailovch were meant as soldiers decorations rather then payment. Dependent upon ones social status would determine the size of the decoration. The fractional issues such as the present example appear to be the result of the Treaty of Pereyaslav, concluded by Bogdan Khmelnitsky (Bohdan Khmelnytsky) in 1654. This treaty stipulated that Khmelnitsky would pledge his allegiance to the Tsardom of Russia for military protection.
We sold an inferior example, PCGS AU-50, in our January 11, 2018 NYINC auction Lot # 21317 for an astonishing $7,000- plus the buyers fee."
A gold kopek (KM 55a) was also issued in this period.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.43 g, gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-46; KM-40; Petrov-Pl. 11 # 114; Spassky-Pg.131 Fig.94 #5.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2019 Chicago ANA Auction: World Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
Link to:
- Russia (1613-45) 4 ducats Fr-27
- (1682-89) ducat, Sophia Alekseyevna as regent
- Russia 1686 chekh, Sophia as Regent for Ivan & Peter
- Russia (1702) 5 kopeks
- Coins and currency dated 1654