IgorS

I did get the red pass. Did not even have to ask for it. Just had no use for it. The vacation was super! Provence is a great place to visit.

1765 Siberia coin sold for 22k. Whch to me means split opinions, but leaning towards novodel.

The edge is plain, unless I am somehow mistaken. I did look at the coin.

One more article in CoinWorld http://www​.coinworld​.com/insig​hts/unique​--previous​ly-unknown​-1757-kope​k-pattern-​highlights​-russian.a​ll.html

Much more than that. You should compare the two that are not double struck . Take a look at the hair style. Also, one is called "parallel" and the other one "not parallel". I will leave it to you to figure it out. More fun that way (for you).

gxseries , yes, both are double struck. Your coin has a different portrait - more desirable one.

An article related to a great coin in the upcoming auction: http://www.coinworld.com/insights/rare-russian-pattern-ruble-rejected-in-1886-leads-sincona-auctio.all.html

From what I understood, Sincona has also a novodel 2k 1764 which will be offered in the next auction. But it will be available for viewing in Zurich now and will be right next to the coin in this discussion.

On that note - any predictions on the amount it will fetch? Let's make it interesting

I do like Catherine I coins. This one seems to be genuine. The eagle is nice. The portrait not as nice. The edge is not original.

This time La Galerie Numismatique published auction results on their site. I quickly saved them...

In the news section of the Sincona's home page there is a recording of the speech by Shiryakov of GIM on Soviet Novodels of 1920s (In English)

How about this one from Markov's auction (January 2014)?: http://www.m-dv.ru/monety-rossii-1700-1917/prohod,112506/coins,4154/type,6083/auction,16/date,2014-01-09/lot,1121/images-prohod.html

And the last one, from a famous numismatist: When one looks at an auction catalog of a leading numismatic firm, it is easy to be impressed with major rarities being offered. However, for many buyers, those rarities are of a strictly academic interest; to most, these rarities are above their areas of interest or budget. In the recent Sincona Auction 19 catalog, I noticed two categories of coins, unusual coins, interesting as it seems to me, coins that were very affordable and that appealed to a much wider group of collectors. It is needless to say that both of these belong to areas of my old interests, areas that I have spent lot of time and energy on and to which I have given a great deal of thought. In the summer of 1999, in the Journal of the Russian Numismatic Society, I published an article titled “Novodels or Die Trials? And What Happened to the 1760 Dies?” In that article I proposed an idea that the original dies for the unaccepted 1760 coinage were used in 1762 for the copper coinage of Peter III. The idea came to me after I noticed 4 kopeks and 2 kopeks coins with clear 2 over 0 overdates in my inventory. Further study helped confirm my idea. Before publishing my article I expressed my thoughts to V.V. Uzdenikov, V.A. Kalinin, and E.V. Lepekhina. All three agreed and The Hermitage even had another 1762 coin with a 2 over 0 overdate: a 1 kopek that fit in perfectly with my theory. Looking through the Sincona Auction 19 offering I was delighted to see lots 250 and 251 – 4 kopeks from 1762 with 2 over 0 overdates – and lot 254 – a 1762 2 kopeks with 2 over 0 overdate. These coins are much scarcer than straight dates, and are a very interesting and important addition to any collection, not only as overdates but also as a representative of 1760 coinage. Another very interesting coin in the Sincona Auction is the Siberian 2 kopeks from 1764. There are lots of opinions regarding the attribution of that coin. There are also lots of opinions regarding Siberian coinage from 1764. Originally, my attention to the subject was again peaked by a coin I had in stock: a Siberian denga from 1764. I had never seen that coin before and needed to have it compared to a knowingly genuine piece. I asked V.V. Uzdenikov if I could bring it to Russia for an Expert Opinion and he agreed. During my visit there, not only did I show my coin to Uzdenikov, but I also took it to The Hermitage to show it to V.A. Kalinin. The State Historical Museum (GIM) did not have a single specimen of that coin, and therefore it was Uzdenikov suggested that I take it to Kalinin to verify. My coin showed some evidence of being in a fire and Uzdenikov told me that back when the Kolyvan mint opened in 1764 and started production, a devastating fire occurred and burned down whole Mint. Kalinin thought that my coin could have been one of the survivors. Since then, many other opinions regarding the dates of operation of the Kolyvan mint have been published claiming that it only started production in 1766. None of them seem to be relying on direct documents, only on secondary sources. I tend to believe the version of events told to me by Uzdenikov and Kalinin back in the early ‘90’s. Some believe that Sincona, lot 340, 2 kopeks of 1764, is a pattern, or as they call it, a “ukaznaya” (coins that were attached to a document sent to the Empress by the Mint or by the Empress to Various Governmental Departments) coin. Others call it “novodel,” and some others even express doubt of its authenticity. All sides find evidence of the other sides being wrong and point them out. I don’t intent in this article to defend either side, but relying on the overall appearance of that coin and suspecting its origin, I believe that the estimated price of 3000 CHF is a very reasonable gamble on that very interesting piece. Alexander Basok Professional Numismatist, Coin Dealer www.rustypennies.com 847.444.1163 basok@rustypennies.com

One more article related to one more coin from the upcoming auction: http://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=1462&category=30649&lot=1322100 Pattern Portrait Rouble by L. Steinmann Description. Russia. Alexander III, 1881­1894. Rouble (pattern) 1886. Silver. Mint: St. Petersburg. Medallists L. Kh. Steinmann (obverse), A. G. Grilikhes Catalogue reference. Bitkin 222 (R4). Obv. The portrait of Alexander III facing to right. The legend on the circumference: Б.М. АЛЕКСАНДРЪ III ИМПЕРАТОРЪ И САМОДЕРЖЕЦЪ ВСЕРОССIЙСКIЙ petals separating the beginning and ending of the legend. Rev. The state coat of arms a crowned two­headed eagle holding a sceptre and an orb in its talons; the eagles breast and wings are decorated with heraldic shields. Beneath the coat of arms, the value and the year of coinage: 1 . Beneath the portrait, a rosette with 5 . The legend is separated in the middle by a rosette with 5 The emperors portrait reappeared in 1886 on gold and silver coins of the Russian Empire after 90 years of absence. Upon the accession of Emperor Paul I the portrait disappeared due to the unattractive features of the new sovereigns profile. For almost a century the St, Petersburg mint struck only pattern and commemorative coins with portraits of members of the ruling family. The successors of Paul I were not eager to return to portraits on coins of the regular national currency. The main elements of coinage now were the national emblem and official legends. This meant that propagandistic functions were mainly transferred to objects of medallic art which thrived at the turn of was taken by banknotes. Another design change of mass­produced Russian coins is associated with the spread of the so­called pseudo­Russian or neo­Russian style in official art. Since the 1860s, its influence significantly affected the design of paper currency. Another important manifestation of this trend in the Russian Empire was the return of the portrait of the Emperor on the coins of the regular coinage. This can be considered a revival of the tradition of mass monetary coinage with the use of portraits, which was established by Peter the Great. In accordance with the same neo­Russian coin concept, the new coins were designed and realized in the Russian antiquity style. In October 1885, Alexander III was presented with two one­rouble coins for approval. The obverse die for one of the coins was made by L. Kh. Steinmann, the other by A. A. Grilikhes. A. G. Grilikhes was the engraver of the reverse die, which was the same for the two coins. While noting the good performance, the Emperor, however, expressed his desire "for the coin relief to be more prominent". In mid­December, a plaster mould, according to which dies of coins for the regular coinage were supposed to be produced, was presented to Alexander III for approval. The mould received the "Supreme Approval", and in the end of January 1886 the Emperor was presented with a new model of the silver rouble, which was approved, and specimens of pattern th centuries. Later, the main propagandistic function of money roubles of the year 1886, "made with the portrait of the Emperor, but having not received the Supreme Approval" because of the lack of prominence (according to Alexander III), were transferred from the St. Petersburg mint to the numismatic collections of the Grand Duke Georgiy Mikhajlovich and the The description of the pattern portrait rouble by L. Steinmann and images of the three specimens of this coin (of both the obverse and the reverse) were first published in 1891 in the "Corpus of Russian Coins" by the Grand Duke Georgiy Mikhajlovich. Later, the three obverse images were included in the catalogue of I. I. Tolstoy's collection, which was published by the company of A. Hess, whom I. I. Tolstoy charged with auctioning a part of his collection after losing interest in the coins of the imperial period and fully concentrating on collecting and studying the coins of the pre­imperial period. Previously, the portrait rouble by L. Steinmann appeared at A. Hess' auctions twice: during the sale of I. I. Tolstoy's collection in 1913 (Lot No. 2710) and in 1968 (Lot No. 514). The last coin will be presented at the auction of "Sincona AG" in 2014. Brief Information on the Medallists creators of the dies for pattern portrait roubles of the year 1886 Grilikhes, Avenir Grigorjevich (1822 or 1825­1905) artist, medallist, gem engraver, was born into the family of an engraver. Before moving to St. Petersburg and working at the St. Petersburg Mint in 1871 as a coin die engraver, he worked in Vilna as a seal (die) engraver. In 1872 he was honoured with the title of a 3 in 1879 a senior medallist and court counsellor. He was well­known as a fine portraitist, engraver of gems and a master of heraldic pictures. He was also the creator of dies for many coins and medals. The two­headed eagle by A. G. Grilikhes was used on the reverse of all portrait coins of mass release for the years 1886 through 1915, as well as on the commemorative rouble of the year 1913. He signed the coin dies (except those of the gold 5­rouble coins of years 1895 through 1911) with the letters «АГ» beneath the back leg of St. George's horse. He signed his other works as follows: «АВЕНИРЪ ГРИЛИХЕСЪ РЕЗ.»; «А. Г.»; «А. ГРИЛИХЕСЪ СТ. Р.»; «А. ГРИЛИХЕСЪ ОТЕЦЪ Р.» Grilikhes, Abraham Avenirovich (1849­1912) artist, medallist, gem engraver was the son of A. G. Grilikhes. After graduating from the Vilna painting school he underwent a complete course of study in medallists class of the Imperial Academy of Arts (1868­1876) and was promoted to a 3 painter. He was the student of P. L. Brusnitsyn. In 1877 he was sent to the Ministry of Finance and transferred to the St. Petersburg Mint to supervise the manufacturing of dies for copper coins. In 1879 he was honoured with the title nd grade painter, in 1882 becoming 1 became a junior medallist, and in 1899 a senior medallist and court counsellor. He was awarded with the 3 Medal of the World Art and Industrial Exhibition in Paris in 1889. Creator of dies for many coins and medals, including the obverse dies of gold and silver portrait coins of years 1886 through 1894, he also engraved both sides of commemorative roubles of the years 1898 and 1912, those with a monument to rd grade painter. In 1873 he became a junior medallist and 3rd grade st grade painter. In 1880 he also rd Class order of St. Anna and the Gold Alexander III. He signed the commemorative coin dies and the dies of several 5­rouble coins of years 1887 through 1892 with letters «А.Г.», signing his other works as follows: «А. А. Г.»; «ГРИЛИХЕСЪ СЫНЪ»; «ГРИЛ. СЫНЪ Р.»; «ГРИЛ. СЫНЪ» Steinmann, Leopold Khristianovich (18481897) artist, medallist. German by birth, he graduated from the Academy of Arts in Berlin. During the years of 1874 through 1876, he studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. In 1874 he became a junior medallist, and in 1883 a senior medallist of the St. Petersburg Mint. A personal honorary citizen of St. Petersburg and creator of the "coronation" rouble dies of the year 1883, of the obverse dies for several varieties of the 1886 pattern portrait rouble, and also of many medals, he signed his works as follows: «Л. Ш.»; «Л. ШТЕЙНМАНЪ»; «РЕЗ. Л. ШТЕЙНМАНЪ»; «L. STEINMANN» 4 . 5 . 1 The translation of the inscription: "By the Grace of God, Alexander III, Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia" 2 The translation of the inscription: "Ruble, the year of 1886" 3 The translations of the inscriptions, respectively: "CUT BY ABNER GRILIKHES", "A. G.", "CUT BY A. GRILIKHES SR", "CUT BY A. GRILIKHES ­ FATHER" 4The translations of the inscriptions, respectively: "A. A. G.", "GRILIKHES ­ SON", "CUT BY GRIL. ­ SON", "GRIL. ­ SON" 5 The translations of the inscriptions, respectively: "L. S.", "L. STEINMANN", "CUT BY L. STEINMANN", "L. STEINMANN"

Part 1 10 zlotys1 Pl. III, 23. very rare Obv. The image of the head of Emperor Alexander I facing to right, as in the description No. 79, but increased in size. The legend on the circumference: ALEXANDER I. CES · ROS · WSKRZESICIEL KRÓL · POLS · 1815. Rev. Two-headed eagle can be distinguished from the eagle on previous 10-zloty coins by a crown above, a scepter, an orb and a tail, as all of these --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 2 1827 61 are significantly reduced in size. On each side of the crown: 18-–-27. On each side of the eagle's tail: I ·-–- B ·. Beneath the eagle, a semicircular legend: 10 ZŁOTYCH POLSKICH. The legend on the circumference: MIKOŁAY I. CES · WSZ · ROSSYI KRÓL POLSKI PANUIĄCY. Despite the fact that some numismatists, referring to the death of Jakub Beník, which occurred in May of the year 1827, claim that this coin was struck at a later period, an assumption can still be made that, during the time from January to mid-May of the year 1827, the Warsaw Mint Master had enough time to make a few pattern coins signed with his initials. The depicted specimen as well as the one from the collection of Count I.I. Tolstoy are of "lawful" (full) weight, while the specimen belonging to Count (E. Hutten-)Czapski is a light-weight one. See C-te Czapsky, cat. No 6,040.

One more article by Anonymous related to another coin in Sincona 19: 10 zlotys1 , year 1827, IB Description. Russia for Poland. Nicholas I, 1825-1855. 10 zlotys. Silver. Year 1827, IB. Mint: Warsaw. Medallist – G. Meinert (no signature on the coin). Mint Master2 Catalogue reference. Bitkin, 983 (R4). Obv. The portrait of Emperor Alexander I facing to right; The head is crowned with a laurel wreath, bound at the back of the head with a ribbon falling to the neck. The legend on the circumference: ALEXANDER I. CES · ROS · WSKRZESICIEL KRÓL · POLS · 1815. Above the portrait, a star with 6 rays separating the beginning and ending of the legend. Rev. Two-headed Russian eagle crowned with three imperial crowns and holding a sceptre, a sword and an orb in its talons. The eagle’s breast is decorated with a mantle, which is tied up at two upper angles. In the middle of the mantle, an oval shield with the one-headed Polish eagle. Above the shield and the mantle, a royal crown. Above the heads of the Russian eagle, the date separated with the crown in the middle: 18-–-27. On each side of the eagle's tail, the mint master's initials: I ·-–- B ·. Beneath the eagle, a semicircular legend: 10 ZŁOTYCH POLSKICH. The legend on the circumference: MIKOŁAY I. CES · WSZ · ROSSYI KRÓL POLSKI PANUIĄCY. According to the decision of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, on the territory taken by Russia after the partition of the Commonwealth of Poland and, later, of the (Great) Duchy of Warsaw, the Tsardom (Kingdom) of Poland was established as an autonomy within the Russian Empire with its own Constitution, according to which the supreme authority was granted to the Russian Emperor, who was also a "part-time" Polish monarch. In accordance with the received status, the Kingdom of Poland was granted the right to issue own coins, and so the Warsaw Mint began its work in 1816. Around the portrait of Alexander I on gold and silver coins of full value, a legend was struck which confirmed his "double-jobbing" as the Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia and the King of Poland – «ALEXANDER I. CESARZ SA · W · ROS · KRÓL POLSKI». In 1820, the group of silver portrait coins with denominations of 5, 2 and 1 zloty was extended by the 10-zloty coin, minted in relatively small issues. Its appearance was not due to urgent need of money circulation in a coin with a new denomination. First of all, the 10-zloty coin was designed as an implementation of the coins' propagandistic function or, as stated in a decree on the preparation for its coinage, issued by the Viceroy of the Kingdom of Poland, «for leaving a lasting memory of the care of the government for the welfare of the people». The welfare and economic prosperity of Poland under the patronage of the Russian two-headed eagle was to be undeniably testified by the "dignified appearance" of the 10-zloty coin with an explicit legend on the reverse: «Z SREBRA KRAIOWEGO» – "(made) of silver of local origin". At the beginning of the reign of Nicholas I, commemorative elements in the design of gold and silver portrait coins were developed further. The sovereign, "wishing to erect a new monument to the monarch, to whom Poland must credit its being, national institutions and many other good things, had the thought of striking an image of his dignified predecessor (up to his breast) on all Polish coins". On portrait coins of years 1826 through 1834 Alexander I was depicted as a laureate, and the legends on the circumferences of both the obverse and the reverse sides included the names and titles of both rulers: «Alexander I, the Russian Emperor, the one who re-created the Kingdom of Poland. Nicholas I, the Emperor of All Russia, the ruling King of 2 Originally - "Münzmeister" or "monetarius" The least numerous denomination present in this group of portrait coins was the 10- zloty coin, being issued only in 1827 and numbering only 123 specimens (according to Bitkin's catalogue). An assumption can be made that, with the blanks for the 10-zloty coin used up, it was Two varieties of the 1827 10-zloty coin can be distinguished by the mintmasters' initials on the reverse. The initials I.B. are those of Jakub Beník, who became a mintmaster of the Warsaw mint in times of existence of the Duchy of Warsaw, in 1811 and retained this position until mid- May, 1827. Mint Master Fryderyk Hunger, who replaced J. Beník, signed the coins minted in Warsaw in the years of 1827 through 1832 with the initials F.H. According to the Grand Duke Georgiy Mikhajlovich, the 10-zloty coins of the year 1827, signed with the initials I.B., were patterns. He was aware of existence of three specimens of this coin, two of which – his own and the one from the collection of Count I.I. Tolstoy – were of "lawful" weight, while the specimen from the numismatic collection of Count E. Hutten- A description and an image of the 1827 10-zloty coin with the mintmaster's initials – I.B. –were first published by Count E. Hutten-Czapski. His composition "Cataloque de la collection des medailles et monnaies polonaises du comte Emeric Hutten-Czapski", in which the coin is shown under No. 6040, is cited by the Grand Duke Georgiy Mikhajlovich in the chapter of the "Corpus of Russian Coins" devoted to Russian coins made for Poland. In 1893, he also published a description of this 10-zloty coin as well as obverse and reverse images of the coin from his own collection (No. 84. Vol.III/23). As for the specimen of this coin which belonged to Count I.I. Tolstoy, the catalogue of his collection published by the company of A. Hess, to whom the famous numismatist gave his collection in order to auction it, included only the reverse image of At present, a coin with denomination of 10 zlotys, struck in 1827 and signed "I.B.", i.e. with the initials of Jakub Beník, the Warsaw Mint Master, is presented at the auction of "Sincona AG". Previously, a similar coin appeared at auctions only once: this was a 10-zloty coin from the collection of Count I.I. Tolstoy in 1913.

Who is Mihail?

Here is an article written by Anonymous related to a coin in Sincona 19. “Ukaznaya” or Pattern Siberian 1764 2 kopeks piece. Description: Russia, Catherine II 1762-1796, two kopeks ( pattern), copper 1764, St Petersburg Mint. In catalog by Bitkin this coin is not published. Obv: In a wreath of laurel and palm branches tied with a ribbon on the bottom, below the Imperial Crown is a cipher of Empress Catherine II, formed by the interlocked letters “E” and Roman “II” in floral design with a toothed circular border. Rx: Two sables are standing facing each other on their hind legs on a striped square plate and are holding an oval shield decorated with 8-rays (with 5 visible triangular spikes) city crown in their front paws. The shield is decorated on the top, left and the bottom with the top decorated with a branch of possibly Siberian Pine, bottom decorated with uniformly curled curves, possibly tops of the folding waives. On the shield there is a legend “ДВЕ / КОПЕ / ИКИ / 1764” (two / kope/ ks / 1764). Above the crown is a 4 petal rosette, dividing the “СИБИРСКАЯ МОНЕТА” (Siberian Coin) circular legend, all in toothed circular border. Edge: “КОЛЫВАНСКАЯ МЕДЬ” (Kolyvan Copper) legend divided into two parts with two decorative elements and a colon between them repeating twice. Each decorative element is represented as diamond-shaped stylized flower of four figural petals alternating with four stamens and a round central part. As we know, one of the specific elements of the Russian monetary system of the Imperial period is the practice of specific issues intended for circulation in very specific geographically limited regions. In modern numismatics they are called Regional or National Issues. In the 18th century, they were coins struck for Baltic Provinces – “Levonesy” and also Siberian and Crimean coins. In 19th century, they were coins intended for Georgia, Poland and Finland. The largest area of distribution had Siberian coins, whose area of circulation was from east of Ural Mountains, from the city of Tary (on Irtysh River) all the way to Kamchatka. Issue of that copper series of six denominations from 10 kopeks to polushka, organized in Southern Siberia on Altay, was due to the remote location of Mints in the European part of Russia as well as the need to use copper left over at Kolyvan-Voskresensk Manufactures after silver refinery from the Kolyvan ore. That copper still contained some amounts of noble metals, silver and gold, which was not economically wise at that time to refine further and therefore it was decided to use that copper for special coinage intended to circulate in Siberia with 25 roubles out of pood of copper (instead of 16 roubles out of pood as it was for the standard coinage). In the fall of 1766 at the specially built Mint located on the banks of the river Nizhny Susun, right tributary to Ob River, the coinage of Siberian coin was started. As a sourse of raw material for the production of those coins, the abovementioned special copper with insignificant amounts of silver and gold from Kolyvan-Voskresensk Manufactures was used, which in the beginning was indicated with the «КОЛЫВАНСКАЯ МЕДЬ» edge description placed on three higher denominations and from 1767 as KM initials on obverse of all coins under the cipher of Catherine II. Their coinage lasted until 1781 when, due to improvement in refining of noble metals from copper, it was decided to change the coinage of the Susun Mint to Regular National coinage without taking into account gold and silver content in Altay copper. The total of 3.6 million roubles of Siberian coins was struck at the Susun Mint during that decade and a half. Despite the fact that the first coins struck at the Susun mint were dated 1766, several samples of the same “Siberian” design, with earlier dates 1763-1765 are known in numismatics. Among them are novodel coins as well as genuine, original strikes, without a doubt. The main visual criteria for determination of coin with those dates as “original” would be the manner of the edge design, the idea of which can be seen in the catalog by V.V. Uzdenikov “Coins of Russia” (on the page 398 of the 3rd in the 2004 depiction of the edge design of original and novodel coins of 10-, 5- and 2- kopeks denominations are presented). It is not difficult to see that novodel Siberian coins of three higher denominations, despite attempts to make it as close to the original as possible with the edge legend just as on first Susun 10-, 5- and 2-kopeks pointing to the specific “manufacturing brand” of metal is “Kolyvan Copper”, the elements of the legend dividing the words are not the same by design and structure as the original ones. The correctly designed edge is exactly what allows us to consider coins dated earlier than that established date original strikes and call them original Siberian design. They are coins of all 6 denominations dated 1764 as well as a 5-kopek coin dated 1763 (according to V.V. Uzdenikov). Their design is absolutely identical to those first coins struck at the Susun mint and therefore should be considered as a pattern or more correctly as sample coins, and the place of their “birth” is Petersburg Mint that is reflected in Ukaz of Chancellery of Catherine II dated November 23, 1763 directed to Chancellery of Kolyvan-Voskresensky Mining Chief, in which, for example, “Her Imperial Majesty Highest testing at the local Mint of struck and cancelled sample coins” is mentioned. In the abovementioned catalog by V.V. Uzdenikov, a more compressed version of the same is placed: “Genuine coins of 1763-1764 were struck at Petersburg Mint as samples for Susun Mint” (page 398). We can assume that the production of Siberian coins at Petersburg Mint was implemented in two steps with a small time interval between them. It is possible that for the convenience of comparison with the highest and most common denomination of standard national copper coins – 5 kopek and in order to have opportunity with the result of comparison to make fast and appropriate conclusions regarding future coinage and implement corrections if necessary, the Siberian 5 kopek pieces were struck first with the date 1763, and some time later the full set of all denominations with the date 1764. After that some of the struck coins were drilled and attached to the appropriate documents and sent to the “Chancellery of Kolyvan-Voskresensky Mining Chief” and possibly to some other departments and offices. Unused samples, which originally were intended to be attached to the documents are customarily referred to as “ukazniye” as in “ukaz” (a letter of direction, a document), were left at the Petersburg Mint. One of such “ukaznaya” sample Siberian coins of 2 kopeks denomination dated 1764 known at the present time in a singular sample and previously unknown in catalogs, is offered at the auction of the numismatic firm “Sincona”. Sufficiently convincing evidence that above mentioned 2 kopek is an unused sample coin could be found on the coin itself. On the reverse side, between the spikes of the city crown on top of the shield, and to the left of central spike, there is a slight trail of an impact made by the sharp object, which is most likely an evidence of a mark for the place where the hole for attaching the coin to the document with a cord would be drilled. Another piece of evidence that the coin could be a sample is the quality of its execution: it is much better than the coins of regular issue, however is not as good as that of the pattern coins (for instance, the decreasing quality of the design is very visible on this sample as well as the doubling of the lower, sharper parts of the letters in the legend “Siberian Coin”, so-called phenomenon of “dovetail”. Despite the existence of business strikes of Siberian 2 kopeks pieces between 1766-1767 with edge inscription, there were no coins with earlier “pre-Siberian” dates known until now that could be considered a sample specimen, a coin with not only Siberian types of obverse and reverse, but with Susun edge of the 1766 that was used only for 3 highest denominations. Numismatics only had information regarding 10 and 5 kopeks of 1763- 1764 with the same edge inscription minted at Petersburg Mint, but nevertheless that was exactly the reason for the belief that there must be a coin of 2 kopek denomination in existence. And the sample offered by “Sincona” is offering exactly that previously missing link in the group of 10-, 5- and 2 kopeks Siberian coins of Petersburg origin united by common elements of design and intended as samples for Susun Mint . The link between the first coins struck at Susun Mint with exact specifications presented on those “ukaznyey” samples.

Thank you! When I was searching the net, "cultural value" restrictions also showed up for the Baltic countries. But I guess it is not that strict there.

Does anyone know if coins can be easily shipped from Switzerland to Belarus or Kazakhstan? Do Belarus and Kazakhstan have similar to Russia regulations?

Looks like the catalog is up: http://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=1462 I am still undecided about going in person this time. Too many other commitments

Dyakov's catalog has a similar prize medal for this event, but without fish. Other details are different too. I assume the organizers of this convention ordered medals in a few different places - at the mint, and privately.

Yes, they are copies. Believe it or not, I know collectors who pay good money for those. I once had one of Tolstoy medallions for the war of 1812 series made in Kasli. Very pleasant to hold - solid, clean. dark.

Russian cast iron medals are not from the mint, but from Kasli - a Russian town famous for its cast-iron castings in the middle of the 19th century.