09-06-2014 – 01-01-1970
Coins, Medals and Banknotes
Rare Russian coins discovered by Morton & Eden
A surprise package of choice Russian material has been discovered amongst a very large group of mostly worn common coins sent to Morton & Eden for valuation.
Contained in old small paper envelopes, amongst hundreds of others that contained coins of minimal value, was a group of 39 minor Russian silver coins of the early 19th century in amazing condition. The coins had been sent for sale by a descendant of an eastern European family whose members had emigrated many years ago to the U.S.
Morton & Eden believed it was necessary to have the coins graded be officially because of their exceptional condition to be fully appreciated by collectors and sent the consignment to PCGS. Of the 39 coins, 16 were graded MS64, 11 at MS65, one at MS65+ and five graded at MS66.
The coins consist of silver 20 kopecks, 10 kopecks and 5 kopecks, dated from 1802 to 1825 struck during the reign of Tsar Alexander I. Each is different, leading to speculation that they originally belonged to a set, of which records have since been lost.
They include three very rare dates: a 10 kopecks of 1803 (Bitkin 62), MS65, estimated at £15,000-20,000 ($25,000-33,000); …
… a 5 kopecks of 1812 (Bitkin 255), MS64, estimated at £8,000-12,000 ($13,000-20,000) …
… and a 5 kopecks of 1825 (Bitkin 282), MS64, estimated at £6,000-8,000 ($10,000-13,000). The total estimate for the group is £70,000-90,000 ($116,000-150,000).
The collection will be auctioned by Morton & Eden in Sotheby salerooms on June 10.
For more information go to the Morton & Eden website.