Russia 1775-SP 10 rubles Fr-129a
This specimen was lot 1543 in Stacks-Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $35,250. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 10 Ruble, 1775-CNB. St. Petersburg Mint. Catherine II (1762-96). NGC MS-62. The finest certified example by NGC, with only two other coins graded (both VF). A bright and lustrous example that is well struck and very attractive. Surfaces accented with light orange-gold tones." Tsarina Elizabeth introduced the denomination in 1755 with a small issue, now very rare. Catherine the Great reduced the coin to 13.08 g in 1764 and likely melted as many of the older coins as she could obtain. This type of 1766-76 is expensive but slightly more available than the prior design.
Recorded mintage: 50,000.
Specification: 13.08 g, 0.917 fine gold, .385 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-129a; C-79a; Bit-31; Diakov-319.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part II (1740-1917), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- 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.
- Harris, Robert P., Guidebook of Russian Coins, 1725 to 1970, Santa Cruz, CA: Bonanza Press, 1971.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, The January 2015 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Featuring the John W. Adams and Ray Czabor Collections, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2014.
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