Morning everyone!

In Bitkin's kataloque this coin is marked with R. Despite of this almost every coin sold for example at EBAY
is with mantle variety (including mine) (To my understanding mantle equals the cape). What's the explanation for this?

My coin: http://www.omnicoin.com/coin_view_enlarge.aspx?id=933302

Here's another: http://www.sixbid.com/nav.php?p=viewlot&am...15&lot=1338

Also look at EBAY...

Janne

You are correct, the type with mantle (cape) is relatively common.

I do not have the current Bitkin, mine being the one-volume edition of 2000, but in the
2000 edition Bitkin says that the variety with cape for 1859 is common. He gives the
R rating to the type without cape. Perhaps the later edition accidentally transposed
the rarities for this date?

RWJ

Mine is 2003 and it gives "R" for variety 1 (St. George with mantel) of 25 kopeks
1859 and 1860. This is really interesting because in the next New York Sale (auction Lot: 1338)
they seem to use the same reference book:

25 Kopecks 1859 СПБ-ФБ. St. George in a mantle. Bit 131 (R ) Sev 3675 (S), Uzd 1757. Scarce early type. Graded by NGC MS 65 Comes with photo-certificate. Lilac-gray with tungsten-blue hues
Gem brilliant uncirculated

Not that scarce...

Somehow coins of 1859 seem to interest me every time I ask/comment anything...