Russia 1888-SP AG 15 kopeks
This specimen was lot 32154 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $900. The catalog description[1] noted, "Russia: Alexander III 15 Kopecks 1888 CПБ-AГ MS63 NGC, St. Petersburg mint, Obv. Crowned Imperial eagle with orb and scepter. Rev. Crowned date and value within wreath. Light gold and russet patina over fully lustrous surfaces. The strike is bold and only a very few light marks are noted. A rare issue in Mint State." The fifteen kopeks, a quasi-decimal denomination as ten and twenty kopeks were also minted, was struck in large numbers 1867-1917. The communists struck a similar coin in .500 silver until 1931.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a common date.
Specification: 2.70 g, 0.500 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-Y21a.2, Bit-121 (R).
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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