Russia 1891-AG 5 rubles
This specimen was lot 31600 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $1,380. The catalog description[1] noted, "Alexander III gold 5 Roubles 1891-AГ MS63 PCGS, St. Petersburg mint. Deeply satin, golden surfaces highlight the focal images, bringing attention to their crisply defined details with a quick rotation under the light. Other than a few scattered post-strike blemishes, the eye appeal of this selection remains highly elevated, and rarely is one able to acquire this issue finer." This type is listed for 1886-94 and matches the French twenty francs d'or. Prior types (1817-85, including KM YB26) were 6.54 g, 0.917 fine gold and the five rubles of Nicholas II (KM Y62) were 4.30 g, 0.900 fine gold. In fact, the 7½ rubles of Nicholas II (KM Y63) matches this coin in weight.
Recorded mintage: 541,000.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, .186 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 42, Fr-168, Bitkin-36.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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