Alexander I Poltina (1/2 Rouble) 1825 CПБ-ПД MS64 S Prooflike NGC, St. Petersburg mint, KM-C123a, Bit-183, Sev-2868. Narrow crown variety. Obv. Crowned double-headed Imperial eagle, with upright wings, and date below. Rev. Crowned four-line inscription within wreath. The strike is bold and a thin band of russet patina encircles the peripheries on both the obverse and reverse. The fields are deeply mirrored and the devices heavily frosted, yielding nice cameo contrast. A conditionally very rare issue. Only three pieces have been certified by NGC, with none at PCGS, this being the finest certified example. Our research has found only six other pieces auctioned since 2005, the finest being an AU sold on April 13, 2013 by the Russian auction firm Coins and Medals (Auction 80, Lot 268), which brought $16,165. The other 5 all graded VF, or less. A stunning example and, by far, the finest we can reference.

HID09801242017

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