Russia 1738-SP ruble Dav-1675
This specimen was lot 1532 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $6,300. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. Ruble, 1738-CNB. St. Petersburg Mint. Anna. NGC MS-62. Wholly blast white and incredibly brilliant, this Mint State specimen presents overall quality that is RARELY encountered. The surfaces remain glistening and original, though some minor planchet flaws near the peripheries on the reverse are noted for completeness." The coinage of Russia of the eighteenth century is a confusing and fascinating subject. Many ruble types were issued only briefly and can be dated even if they don't bear dates. This type was issued from St. Petersburg (shown here) and Moscow (KM 203/Dav-1674) and is rare. It was issued 1736-40 and is priced quite a bit lower than previous issues of Peter I, Catherine I and Peter II. It varies from the similar Moscow issue by the addition of a mintmark and slightly different hairstyle on the empress. The massive portrait of the empress can only have been drawn from life. The rubles of Peter II were about 28 grams but this type seems to be only 25.85 grams.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 25.85 g, .802 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-204; Dav-1675; Bit-234; Dia-17.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part I (1699-1740), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- Harris, Robert P., Guidebook of Russian Coins, 1725 to 1970, Santa Cruz, CA: Bonanza Press, 1971.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
Link to: