Russia 1834-SP 3 rubles
This specimen was lot 1865 in Sincona sale 90 (Zürich, May 2024), where it sold for 4,750 CHF (about US$6,277 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RUSSLAND, Kaiserreich, Nicholas I. 1825-18553 Roubles Platin 1834, St. Petersburg Mint, SPB. Rare. 10 roubles according to Ilyin. Gutes sehr schön. (Good very fine.)"
This type is the most available of the platinum denominations of three, six and twelve rubles. So far as is known, Russia is the only country ever to attempt to strike platinum for circulation with this series of three, six and twelve rubles issued 1829-45. The experiment was not a success as the metal is as hard as nickel, making it difficult to strike, and its price kept dropping relative to gold, discounting the value of the coin. In fact, platinum was used extensively by counterfeiters in the nineteenth century to make fake gold coins as the metal has nearly the same density.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 10.35 g, platinum, this specimen 10.32 g.
Catalog reference: KM-C177, Bitkin 80, Fr-160.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 90, Münzen und Medaillen der Welt, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
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