Nicholas I platinum 12 Roubles 1837-CПБ AU Details (Tooled) NGC, St. Petersburg mint, KM-C179, Fr-158, Bit-46 (R3). A truly awe-inspiring example of this notorious series, struck from a miniscule mintage of just 53 pieces for this date. While specimens of lesser denominations are seen with greater regularity at auction, these 12 Roubles, the largest of the entire platinum series, are witnessed much more infrequently; this date in particular has only been seen at market a total of ten times in the last 20 years. The current representative exhibits raised designs produced with exact calculation as is typically encountered on the mid-19th Russian series as a whole, with every feature rising in clean contrast against its surrounding elements. Despite the noted conditional qualifier distinguished by scattered instances of tooling, graffiti, and wisps, the piece remains an icon of Russian numismatics as the first platinum emission to enter general circulation.

HID09801242017

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