Russia 1739 ruble Dav-1674
This specimen was lot 156 in Sincona sale 12 (Zurich, October 2013), where it sold for 1,500 CHF (about US$1,940 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "Rouble 1739, Kadashevsky Mint. Extremely fine-uncirculated with remaining mint lustre. Somewhat weakly struck." This type was issued from St. Petersburg (KM 204) and Moscow (shown here) and is rare. The coinage of Russia of the eighteenth century is a confusing and fascinating subject. Many ruble types were issued only briefly and can be dated even if they don't bear dates. This type, issued 1736-40, is priced quite a bit lower than previous issues of Peter I, Catherine I and Peter II. The massive portrait of the empress can only have been drawn from life. The rubles of Peter I were about 28 grams but shrank to 20 grams by the end of the reign of Catherine the Great.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 25.85 g, .802 fine silver, this specimen 25.87 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-1674; Bitkin 204. Severin 1302. GM 13.8, KM-203.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part I (1699-1740), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Harris, Robert P., Guidebook of Russian Coins, 1725 to 1970, Santa Cruz, CA: Bonanza Press, 1971.
- [1]Auktion 12: the SINCONA Collection, part 2, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2013.
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