Lot 806
Russia. Ruble, 1741-SPB. Dav-1676; Sev-1363. Ivan III, 1740-1741. 25.92 grams. Laureate and draped bust of the infant Ivan right. Reverse: Crowned double-headed eagle, holding globus cruciger and scepter. Sharp, even strike, with nearly complete details. A few trivial contact marks in obverse field, otherwise fields remarkably pristine and very lustrous. Fine old-collection toning, a very even medium warm gray, made up of iridescent blues, golds and pale russets. Rare -- and rarer still in this grade. NGC graded MS-64.
Ivan, born in 1740, was just an infant when he was named Tsar. Ernst Buhren was named regent; a German, he was prejudiced against all things Russian, and alienated the Russian people. He was replaced as regent by Ivan's mother, Anna Leopoldovna, a philandering and useless libertine who alienated the Russian army, who then placed Elisabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, on the throne. Her first act was to exile the infant Ivan and imprison him -- he never again experienced sunlight or the company of others. Most of his coins were recalled, so all are rare. This is among the finest known.
Estimated Value $12,500 - 15,000.
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| Realized $60,375 |
