Russia 1834-SP 6 rubles

From CoinVarieties
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Künker sale 294, lot 5130

This specimen was lot 5130 in Künker sale 294 (Osnabrück, Germany, July 2017), where it sold for €42,000 (about US$56,608 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"RUSSLAND, KAISERREICH, Nikolaus I. 1825-1855. 6 Rubel Platin 1834, St. Petersburg. Gekrönter Doppeladler mit Zepter und Reichsapfel in den Fängen, auf der Brust St. Georgsschild, umher die Kette des Andreasordens, auf den Flügeln je drei weitere Wappenschilde, oben Krone//Schrift mit Wert und Jahresangabe. PLATIN. Von großer Seltenheit. Nur 11 Exemplare geprägt. Kl. Kratzer, polierte Platte (PROOF) Laut Il'in: 35 Rubel. Mit Expertise von "Shiryakov & Co.", Moskau 2017. Согласно экспертизе, монета в силу своей редкости и прекрасной сохранности представляет большой интерес как нумизматический памятник. (empire of Russia, Nicholas I, 1825-55, platinum six rubles of 1834, St. Petersburg mint. Obverse: crowned double-headed eagle with scepter and orb in its claws, supporting a shield with St. George and the dragon, Order of St. Andrew around; reverse: denomination, date and specification. Very rare, only 11 examples struck. Minor scratches, proof.)"

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.

Recorded mintage: 11.

Specification: 20.71 g, platinum, .6655 troy oz APW, this specimen 20.69 g.

Catalog reference: Bitkin 60 (R3); Fr-159; Schl. 81, KM C178.

Source:

  • 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]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Katalog 294: Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871 | Russische Münzen und Medaillen, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2017.

Link to:

Retrieved from "https://coinvarieties.com/index.php?title=Russia_1834-SP_6_rubles&oldid=611090"