Lot 1869
Russia. Novodel Pattern Ruble, 1771. Bitkin-H881 (Rarity-3); Sev-2058; GM-730; Reichel-4627. Silver. 38.3 mm. 18.82 grams. Plain edge. Catherine II. Well struck with semi-reflective surfaces and attractive light toning in silvery gray with some blue highlights on the wreath. Rated R3, with only 4 to 9 examples estimated to exist.
As mentioned in the Goodman sale, the dies used to strike the novodel "Sestroretsk Ruble" were also used to strike this ruble. Both types show identical raised spots from rusty dies indicating that the original dies may have been used after some years of storage. This type is colloquially known as the "Pugachev Ruble" because the date 1771 corresponds to the period of the rebellion of Emelyan Pugachev who was a pretender to the throne, in the name of Peter III, and the coin design does not contain the name or monogram of Catherine II. The Grand Duke George Michailovitch lists this type as item number 28 in his 1885 monograph "A Description of Some Rare Coins in My Collection" in which he described 44 of his rarest and most interesting coins. It is much rarer than the copper "Sestroretsk Ruble" novodel. The only pieces we can locate appearing at auction since 1931 are the Hess-Leu Russland Auction piece (Sodermann Collection), November 1968, lot 241, and the present specimen. This great rarity is worthy of the finest collection of Russian silver rubles. NGC graded MS-64 Prooflike.
Estimated Value $50,000 - 60,000.
The Dr. Robert D. Hesselgesser Collection, Ex-Irving Goodman Collection, Feb 1991, Lot 465.
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| Realized $51,750 |
