Russia 1880-SP HF poltina
This specimen was lot 31601 in Heritage sale 3035 (Long Beach, September 2014), where it sold for $3,055. The catalog description[1] noted, "Alexander II Poltina (1/2 Rouble) 1880 CПБ-HФ MS63 NGC, St. Petersburg mint. Obv. Crowned double-headed Imperial eagle. Rev. Crowned Date and value in wreath. Fully lustrous, and well struck, with light reverse hairlines. A very scarce, conditionally difficult, issue that seldom appears in Mint State. Only two examples have been certified finer by NGC, both in MS64." Altho struck in much smaller numbers than the contemporary ruble, this type struck 1859-85 has a lower catalog value. In 1886 the poltina was superseded by a fifty kopek piece weighing 10 g, 0.900 fine.
Recorded mintage: 42,000.
Specification: 10.36 g, 0.868 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM Y24; Bitkin 129.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part II (1740-1917), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Harris, Robert P., Guidebook of Russian Coins, 1725 to 1970, Santa Cruz, CA: Bonanza Press, 1971.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, and Warren Tucker, Heritage Signature Auction 3035, World and Ancient Coins, featuring the FoxLair Collection and the Law Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
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