Russia 1802-SP AI poltina
This specimen was lot 31284 in Heritage sale 3037 (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $7,050. The catalog description[1] noted, "Alexander I Poltina (1/2 Rouble) 1802 СПБ-AИ MS63 NGC, St. Petersburg mint, Obv. Crowned double-headed Imperial eagle in circle with date and value around. Rev. Crowned four-line-inscription in wreath. Fully lustrous, with a touch of golden toning. The first-year issue of this scarce type and also the lowest mintage. Conditionally extremely rare, and the only piece certified in Mint State by either NGC, or PCGS." The SCWC records this product of the St. Petersburg mint (СПБ) for 1802-05, with mintmaster AI (AИ) for 1801-03. The type is much scarcer than later half rubles of Alexander I (1811-26) and the contemporary rubles (Dav-279).
Recorded mintage: 104,000.
Specification: 10.36 g, 0.868 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Bitkin-42 (R), KM-C123.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3037, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
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