Russia 1783-SP MM ruble Dav-1686
This specimen was lot 303 in Sincona sale 19 (Zürich, October 2014), where it sold for CHF 46,000 (about US$57,647 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "Rouble 1783, St. Petersburg Mint, MM. Very rare. 20 roubles according to Iljin. 25 roubles according to Petrov. 15 roubles according to Trapeznikov. About uncirculated. Collector’s note: 'RR. Better than in GM. Assez rare.'" The coinage of Russia of the eighteenth century is a confusing and fascinating subject. This type, issued 1783-96, is fairly common tho this assayer is rare. 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: 1,880,000 (both assayers).
Specification: 24 g, 0.750 fine silver, this specimen 23.21 g.
Catalog reference: KM C-67c; Bitkin 236 (R2). Severin 2202. GM 23.10, Dav-1686.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Shiryakov, I. V., and Jürg Richter, The Sincona Collection, Part 3 and Russian Coins & Medals from Other Properties, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2014.
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