Russia 1840-SP NG 10 kopeks
This specimen was lot 75621 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $1,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "RUSSIA. 10 Kopeks, 1840-CNB HT. St. Petersburg Mint. Nicholas I. PCGS MS-63. A seldom encountered SEMI-KEY, this piece emanates from the third scarcest year in the series by mintage. A stunning example overall, surfaces are crisply struck with nearly no weakness to speak of. Lustrous, original, and attractive, mottled light silver gray surfaces show a diverse range of autumnal tones including pale amber, steel gray, and bright sepia coloration. Fittingly the sole finest known at PCGS." This type was struck 1832-58 is large numbers. The succeeding type (Y20.1) was only 0.750 fine. and the weight was reduced in 1867. This assayer, Nikolai Grachev, is listed for 1825-41.
Recorded mintage: 190,001, a very scarce date.
Specification: 12.34 g, 0.900 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-C164.1; Bit-359.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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