Finland 1908-L 2 markkaa
This specimen was lot 4654 in Goldberg sale 69 (Los Angeles, May, 2012), where it sold for $483. The catalog description [2] noted, "Finland. 2 Markkaa, 1908-L. Nicholas II. Lovely golden, blue and russet toning. NGC graded MS-64. The Judy Cahn Collection." After seizing Finland from the Swedes during the Napoleonic Wars, Russia made it a separate kingdom and issued coins for it. This was the largest silver coin during the czarist regime and was struck 1872, 1874 and 1905-08. An earlier type (KM 7.1) was minted 1865-70. Russian defeats in World War One enabled the Finns, who had long chafed under Russian rule, to declare independence in 1917.
Recorded mintage: 124,000.
Specification: 10.36 g, 0.868 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-7.2.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part II (1740-1917), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [2]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Stephen Harvey and Paul Rynearson, Goldberg sale 69: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Ancient and World Coins, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2012.
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