Russia 1875-SP HI 3 rubles
This specimen was lot 21326 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $3,360. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 3 Rubles, 1875-CNB HI. St. Petersburg Mint. Alexander II. NGC MS-63 Prooflike. An enchanting specimen, this piece exhibits tremendous luster and brilliance, garnering the coveted prooflike designation. Only five have been graded finer in the NGC census, though this example is the sole issue to be considered prooflike. Accordingly, great eye appeal is on full display." This type is listed for 1869-85 and is fairly common in circulated condition. It superseded a platinum three rubles of 1828-45. In 1886, the five rubles was revised to match the French twenty francs d'or, resulting in a weight reduction to .186 troy oz, and the three rubles was terminated.
Recorded mintage: 100,000.
Specification: 3.92 g, 0.917 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-164; KM-Y26; Bit-37.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part II (1740-1917), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- 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.
- Harris, Robert P., Guidebook of Russian Coins, 1725 to 1970, Santa Cruz, CA: Bonanza Press, 1971.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
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