Russia 1785-SP YA ruble Dav-1686
This specimen was lot 22202 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $1,980. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. Ruble, 1785-CNB RA. St. Petersburg Mint. Catherine II (the Great). PCGS AU-58. The finest of the date seen at PCGS, this delightful near-Mint crown offers a mostly gunmetal gray tone with some enchanting champagne hues surrounding the devices. Though some minor striking weakness is observed, it nevertheless retains exceptional originality and allure, with essentially no signs of time spent in commerce. From the Sigma Collection." The YA stands for assayer Yakov Afonasiev. The 1785 obtains little premium despite the low mintage.
Recorded mintage: 139,000.
Specification: 24 g, 0.750 fine silver, .578 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Dav-1686; KM C67c; Bit-240.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part I (1699-1740), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Harris, Robert P., Guidebook of Russian Coins, 1725 to 1970, Santa Cruz, CA: Bonanza Press, 1971.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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