Russia 1837-SP 6 rubles
This specimen was lot 41253 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $90,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "Stunning and Supremely Rare Platinum 6 Rubles, With a Mintage of Merely 253! RUSSIA. Platinum 6 Rubles, 1837-CNB. St. Petersburg Mint. Nicholas I. PCGS AU-58. An EXTREMELY RARE Platinum 6 Rubles, that couples together elusivity and beauty with razor-sharp details and a full complement of luster across surfaces kissed by only the lightest touches of circulation. Russian 6 and 12 Rubles in platinum are amongst the highest of highlights, desired insatiably by any collectors of Russian numismatics or just beautiful RARITIES. Given the paucity of 6 Rubles of any date, any time one comes to market is a numismatic highlight, ensuring that this example will reach lofty heights when crossing the auction block." 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: 253.
Specification: 20.71 g, platinum.
Catalog reference: Fr-159; KM-C178; Bit-64 (R3).
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2026 NYINC Showcase Auction, Ancient and World Coins, featuring the Kazmier Wysocki Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to: