Look what turned up in an old PCGS Regency holder....1839 SP Russia 3 R Proof

[coinsarefun]

Starting Price: 250000 EUR

From the auction

Rußland Nikolaus I. 1825 - 1855 Platin 3 Rubel 1839 St. Petersburg, Fr. 143, Sev. 630, GM 287. We have been able to document four specimens of this date and believe that the existence of other pieces is very unlikely. The following is a list of the known specimens in chronoligical order of their appearance. 1. Grand Duke George Michailovitsch, Corpus # 287 tres rare", plate XVIII Nr. 6. This piece has the "C" counterstamp of Emmerich Hutten-Cszapski between the eagles´ heads. It was missing from the 1939 Hess, Luzern catalog of the Grand Duke´s gold and platinum coins and is presumed to be in the Hermitage. 2. Count J.J. Tolstoi, Hess, Frankfurt auction March 1913, Lot 1623. This piece was part of a three piece 1839 proof set which was cataloged as purchased from the St. Petersburg Mint and the only set known. 3. Hermitage Duplicates Auction, Hess, Frankfurt, February 1931, Lot 1092. Described as VF and of Highest Rarity, pictured and obvisouly very worn. 4. Hess-Leu Auction Nr. 39, Luzern, Dezember 1968, Lot # 392. A three piece 1839 proof set of 3,6,12 rubles all with "AK" countermark on the edge. This was esimated at 40.000 Swiss Francs and sold for 61.000 Swiss Francs, an astronomical price for 1968. This specimen is the Count J.J. Tolstoi piece, the only specimen which is not countermarked or worn. As the finest specimen of the RAREST date it is arguably the ultimate platinum three ruble piece. With a mintage of only a few coins, this is certainly one of the rarest and most desireable russian coins. PF63"

[regandon]

Nice !!!!!!

[VDB Coins]

I found an online listing for the Hess 1913 catalog. The bookseller described the catalog in this way:

"3203 lots. The best collection of Russian coins from 1796 to 1894 by quantity of rarities and curiosities, collected by Count I Tolstoy, includes the famous Constantine ruble, Reyhelevsky ruble, as well a large number of patterns. 12 tables of images."

Sweet stuff, eh? 

George