Russia 1880-SP NF 3 rubles
This specimen was lot 21329 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $4,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 3 Rubles, 1880-CNB HO. St. Petersburg Mint. Alexander II. NGC MS-63. Incredibly attractive and choice, this brilliant specimen from late in the reign of Alexander II offers pleasing surfaces and exceptional luster. Quite difficult to find in this elite state of preservation, NGC lists just one finer in their census." 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 It superseded a platinum three rubles of 1828-45.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, 19.7 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-164; KM-Y26; Bit-43.
- 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.
- 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]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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