Russia 1883-SP DS poltina
This specimen was lot 5686 in Künker sale 386 (Osnabrück, March 2023), where it sold for €1,300 (about US$1,680 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RUSSLAND, KAISERREICH, Alexander III. 1881-1894. 1/2 Rubel (Poltina) 1883, St. Petersburg. RR Nur 1.008 Exemplare geprägt. Winz. Druckstellen, sehr schön. (empire of Russia, Alexander III, 1881-98, half ruble or poltina of 1883, St. Petersburg mint. Very rare, only 1,008 examples struck. Minor die breaks, very fine.)"
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 In 1886 the poltina was superseded by a fifty kopek piece weighing 10 g, 0.900 fine.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: 1,008, a rare date, plus assayer AГ, also rare.
Specification: 10.36 g, 0.868 fine silver, this specimen 10.26 g.
Catalog reference: KM Y24; Bitkin 50 (R1).
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 386: Brakteaten | Mainz | Bibliothek Prof. Dr. Niklot Klüßendorf | Mittelalter und Neuzeit | Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2023.
Link to: