Russia 1797-CM GL ducat Fr-143
This specimen was lot 2194 in SINCONA Auction 97 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 5,750 CHF (about US$8,340 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RUSSLAND Kaiserreich und Föderation, Ducat 1797, Mints in St. Petersburg, SM FTs. Sehr selten. Fast sehr schön. Fassungsspuren und Felder bearbeitet. (empire of Russia, ducat of 1797, St. Petersburg mint, Very rare. 40 roubles according to Petrov. 15 roubles according to Ilyin. About Very Fine, Traces of mounting and fields tooled.)"
This very rare type was struck 1797 only. It is the last ducat struck in Russia of indigenous design. In the nineteenth century, the regime made millions of counterfeit Dutch ducats, a practice which ended only in the 1840's when the Dutch government protested.
Recorded mintage: 137,000.
Specifications: 3.47 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3.45 g.
Catalog reference: KM C103, Bitkin 13 (R1), Fr-143.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 97: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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