Russia 1844-SP 3 rubles
This specimen was lot 72169 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2021), where it sold for $3,120. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 3 Rubles, 1844-CNB. St. Petersburg Mint. Nicholas I. PCGS AU-58. Struck in Platinum. A flashy coin, with bright luster in the fields and somewhat frosty obverse devices. Quite attractive for the type, and highly sought after in this condition. Ex. Bowers and Merena, Inc. Auction, January 24-6, 1990, lot 3084." This type was struck 1828-45 and is the most available of the platinum denominations of three, six and twelve rubles. 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: 215,000.
Specification: 10.35 g, platinum, .332 troy oz APW.
Catalog reference: Fr-160; KM-C177; Bit-90.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The October 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
- 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.
- 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.
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