The metal used in these coins are claimed to be "pure" ural platinum coins, but it has been shown that this may not necessary be true, but in fact, some refined process has happened. I so far have no real materials to back up how the Russians managed to smelt platinum at a grand scale or how pure the platunum is. In fact, a research on platinum have shown that pure refinery of platinum was only seriously investigated in the late 1700's and early 1800's, leaving a lot of mysteries of how the refinery process was like.
Nevertheless back to the topic, the first platinum coin was the 3 rubles coin minted in 1828, 6 rubles in 1829 and 12 rubles in 1830. (P.S. the mass of the 12 rubles platinum coin is over an ounce!!! Refer to the Russian coin articles data table).
Such coins are very very very difficult to find. Although the 3 ruble coins are the easiest to find, which pops out on eBay auction sites approximately once every 2 months, a 6 ruble one will pop out on eBay like twice in one year and a 12 ruble one in approximately 2 years or even longer.
Here is a 3 ruble coin on auction right now: Auction page
Here is another one but on a Russian auction site: Auction site
Example of a 12 ruble piece: 12 rubles
Note that there indeed are PROOF platinum ruble coins minted; they are exceedingly scarce, and they are quite priceless... a 12 ruble proof coin went over 18,000USD on one of the auctions if I am not wrong...
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I have been searching the Internet for almost a year, but I have been unable to find the 1825 - 1845 platinum rubles. Where is a reputable dealer who has these coins for sale?
), you might see one at the Finnish Numismatic Society's quarterly auction.
