Russia 1686 chekh
This specimen was lot 33169 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $3,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "Russia. Sophia as Regent for Ivan & Peter (1682-1689) Chekh 1686 MS61 NGC, Sevsk mint, Variety with smaller orb. An incredibly rare one-year minor type, intended to supplant the circulation of foreign coins (particularly Polish issues) in the territory of Little Russia (modern Ukraine). While the type occurs occasionally in lower grades with environmental damage, this is only the second such piece we have encountered in Mint State, with the last in this grade bringing $4080 in January 2019. We note that the type has been assigned the highest rarity by Severin and is listed at a price of 100 to 250 Roubles in Petrov's 1899 work. Mislabeled on the holder as Sev-8." The chekh was intended to match the Polish półtorak, a billon coin worth 1½ groschen or 1/24 thaler. If we rate the thaler at 29 g, then this coin was about equal to a silver five kopeks.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM-Unl., Petrov-100 to 250 Rub., Sev-9 (Excessively Rare).
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage Auction 3089: NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum & Signature Auction - Dallas, featuring the Cape Coral Collection of European Crowns and the Penn Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2020.
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