Russia 1829-SP 6 rubles
This specimen was lot 21797 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), where it sold for $43,125. The catalog description[1] noted, "Exceedingly Rare 1829 St. Petersburg Platinum 6 Roubles--Nicholas I Proof platinum 6 Roubles 1829 CПБ, Crowned Imperial eagle/Date and value in wreath, Proof 63 Cameo PCGS. Fully struck with frosted devices, mirrored fields and a few tiny marks. An extremely rare issue with a mintage of only 828 pieces of which very few proof examples are known. This is the first proof example of this date, and one of the few platinum 6 Roubles of any date, that we have been privileged to offer." So far as is known, Russia is the only country ever to attempt to strike platinum for circulation with this series of three, six and twelve rubles issued 1829-45. The experiment was not a success as the metal is as hard as nickel, making it difficult to strike, and its price kept dropping relative to gold, discounting the value of the coin. In fact, platinum was used extensively by counterfeiters in the nineteenth century to make fake gold coins as the metal has nearly the same density. Despite the tiny mintage, the SCWC lists this as the most common date.
Recorded mintage: 828.
Specification: 20.71 g, platinum, .6655 troy oz APW.
Catalog reference: UZD 0386 (RR), Fr-159; KM C-178; Bitkin-55; Sev-596.
- 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.
- 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]Tucker, Warren, Scott Cordry and John Kraljevich, Heritage Sale 3010: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.
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