Russia 1781-SP IZ ruble Dav-1685
This specimen was lot 24513 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (Newport Beach, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $720. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. Ruble, 1781-CNB N3. St. Petersburg Mint. Catherine II (the Great). PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, Unc Details Gold Shield. A bright and untoned Ruble, with notable planchet flaws on both sides but almost nothing in the way of noticeable hairlines." The coinage of Russia of the eighteenth century is a confusing and fascinating subject. This type, issued 1763-82, is fairly common as is this date. Catherine the Great began life as an obscure German princess but became czarina after the murder of her husband. The rubles of Peter II were about 28 grams but this type is only 24 grams.
Recorded mintage: 2,283,000.
Specification: 24 g, 0.750 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Dav-1685; KM-C-67b; Bit-230.
- 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.
- 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, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2021 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Oro del Nuevo Mundo and Matt Orsini Collections, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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