The June 4, 2000, Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection Parts II & III, Sale 5

Russia

Paul I (1796-1801)

Lot 5500
RUSSIA. Coronation Medal (1797). Silver. 43 mm. by Leberecht. Reichel-2962. Paul I, bust right in Uniform. Reverse: Cross. Very Fine to Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $400-600.

Lot 5501
RUSSIA. Coronation Jeton, ND (1797). Reichel-2967. Silver. 20.5 mm. Paul I. Monogram. Reverse: Cross. Scarce. Very Fine.
Estimated Value $75-100.

Lot 5502
RUSSIA. Ruble, 1798. M'-CM. Dav-1688; Sev-2429. Paul I. A really pleasing coin: bright silvery white luster, sparkling hues of golden blue iridescence, and a bold strike all over. NGC graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $500-700.
Ex Irving Goodman Sale, Feb 1991, Lot 626.

Lot 5503
RUSSIA. Poltina (½ Ruble), 1798 8 over 7. SM-M'. Sev-2425 (2422); Cr-99.1. Paul I. Unlisted overdate, possibly a reworking of a heavy poltina die. Fully lustrous. NGC graded AU-58.
Estimated Value $600-800.
Ex Irving Goodman Sale, Feb 1991, Lot 641.

Lot 5504
RUSSIA. Polupoltinnik, 1798. OM-SP. H-199; Sev-2417(2419). Paul I. Rare in high grade. Nicely toned. NGC graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $600-800.
Ex Irving Goodman Sale, Feb 1991, Lot 653.

Lot 5505
RUSSIA. Polupoltinnik (¼ Ruble), 1798. M'-CM. H-198; Sev-2417. Paul I. Lovely lilac gray surfaces. NGC graded MS-62.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Ex Irving Goodman Sale, Feb 1991, Lot 655.

Lot 5506
RUSSIA. 10 Kopecks, 1798 8 over 7. MB-SM. H-197; Sev-2413. Paul I. NGC graded MS-61.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Ex Irving Goodman Sale, Feb 1991, Lot 664.

Lot 5507
RUSSIA. 1 Kopeck, 1798-KM. B-49. Large date. Paul I. Tannish brown. Bold strike. NGC graded MS-62 Brown.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 5508
RUSSIA. Denga (½ Kopeck), 1798-K.M. B-28. Novodel. Paul I. Dark chocolate in color and boldly struck. NGC graded MS-64.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 5509
RUSSIA. Ruble, 1799. SM-M'. Dav-1688; Sev-2452. Paul I. NGC graded MS-62.
Estimated Value $400-600.

Lot 5510
RUSSIA. Polupoltinnik (¼ Ruble), 1799. FTs-SM. H-198; Sev-2444. Paul I. NGC graded MS-62.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Ex Irving Goodman Sale, Feb 1991, Lot 659.

Lot 5511
RUSSIA. Ruble, 1800. OM-CM. Dav-278; Sev-2467. Paul I. Toned. NGC graded AU-58.
Estimated Value $300-400.
Ex Irving Goodman Sale, Feb 1991, Lot 635.

Lot 5512
RUSSIA. 2 Kopecks, 1800. EM. B-79; Cr-95.3. Paul I. NGC graded MS-65 Red.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 5513
RUSSIA. Polushka (¼ Kopeck), 1800-K.M. B-16. Novodel. Edge-1. Paul I. Rare. The merest hint of red on beautiful, chocolate-brown surfaces. Sharply struck and pleasing in every way. NGC graded MS-66.
Estimated Value $300-UP.

Lot 5514
RUSSIA. 2 Kopecks, 1801-KM. B-86; KM-N344. Edge-1. Novodel. Paul I. Reflective milk-chocolate brown surfaces, nary a tick anywhere, a hint of golden red under the toning, beautifully centered and struck, and just a touch of blue iridescence. NGC graded MS-66.
Estimated Value $300-UP.
Ex Jascha Heifetz sale, December 9-10, 1989, Superior Galleries, Lot 2167.

Lot 5515
RUSSIA. Denga (½ Kopeck), 1801-KM. B-39; KM-N341. Edge-1. Novodel. Paul I. Very Rare. Glossy dark-chocolate brown with hints of red, boldly struck as well. NGC graded MS-66.
Estimated Value $500-UP.

Alexander I (1801-1825)

 Russia in the time of the Napoleonic Wars found itself led by one of its most memorable but baffling czars. The 23-year-old Alexander seems to have been forever scarred by the murder of his father, possibly because he knew of the plot to kill Paul but did nothing about it. While he has been implicated in the assassination by some historians, others feel he just stood by and waited for his turn on the throne. Glorified as a pacifist in the first years of his reign, Czar Alexander defies positive interpretation: while saying he hated war, he was an enthusiast of parade-ground drills of troops, became a shrewd diplomat, and engaged increasingly in a melancholy mysticism. Largely educated by his grandmother, Catherine the Great, he learned the arts of flattery and prevarication. Following the uplifting early years of his rule, he eventually became irritable, suspicious, and dissatisfied with all around him, which led to his religious, mystic end. Before war with Napoleon, Alexander tried to abolish serfdom and even the autocratic hierarchy of Russia. To no avail. The institutions were too deeply imbedded to be easily reformed. He restored the senate to a supreme judicial and administrative position, sharing his rule with it. In fact, he replaced Peter the Great's "colleges" of advisors with more formal ministries-of war, the navy, foreign affairs, justice, finance, commerce, education, and the interior. Finally he added a Ministry of Police. Thus did he lay down the ground rules for later self-government in the provinces. His founding of many schools may be his finest legacy. But the attempts at constitutional reform soon foundered, in the face of Napoleon's invasion and later as the Czar became more despotic. The crushing defeat of the Russian army at Austerlitz by Napoleon in 1805 opened the door for an invasion of Moscow. First, though, Russia annexed Georgia by winning the Russo-Persian War, and defeated long-time enemy Sweden in 1809, which gave it Finland as an autonomous grand duchy. Expansion into Alaska and northern California also occurred early in the Czar's reign with the building of outposts there. The glorious early days of Alexander ended in 1812 when Napoleon defeated Russia at the furious Battle of Borodino, and entered Moscow on September 14. Surprisingly, the Czar defied Bonaparte, refusing to sign a peace treaty until every last French soldier was off Russian soil. While this endeared him to his people, Napoleon first burned Moscow (still mostly made of wood) to the ground before retreating with his Grande Armee in the winter of 1812, in a march which has gone down in history as one of the outstanding events of the century. The Russian winter conspired with a breakdown in Napoleon's line of supplies, leaving French troops frozen on the ground all along the march. The once-beneficent ruler of Russia had lost his humility to history. In his final years, he retreated more and more from view, leaving government largely to his ministers. One of them, Golitsyn, his Minister of Education, came under the mystic spell that was popular throughout Europe at the time, and purged university faculties and libraries of what the movement considered the pernicious learning of the Age of Reason. Disappointment in the Czar among the gentry brought about the first revolutionary movement in Russia's modern history. These rebels, called Decembrists, were liberals of the mind, wanted constitutionalism and basic freedoms for all (including the serfs), but had little backing by the uneducated Russian masses, and so were doomed to failure. The Emperor, isolated in the south, died suddenly at the end of 1825-or so it was rumored. At the age of 48, he disappeared. The court physician refused to sign a death certificate, and many believed that Czar Alexander simply walked away from the throne a disillusioned man-it was thought for many years that he was a saintly hermit in Siberia. Shortly after his disappearance, in December of 1825, rebellion broke out in both the north and south of the country. Mutinous troops and officers (only about three thousand in all) met face to face with Imperial troops in the heart of Moscow (now Red Square). The new czar hesitated to start his reign with bloodshed, though, and after several hours of standoff he had artillery shoot above the Decembrists' heads, killing a few but ending the uprising more or less peacefully.

Lot 5516
RUSSIA. Coronation Medal, 1801. Bronze. 42 mm. By Leberecht. Alexander I bust right. Reverse: Crown on Pedestal. Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 5517
RUSSIA. Ruble, 1802. AI-SP'. S-2519; Dav-279. Alexander I. Elegant gray toning with some greenish iridescence. NGC graded MS-64.
Estimated Value $600-800.

Lot 5518
RUSSIA. Polupoltinnik, 1802. AI-SP'. H-235; Sev-2513. Alexander I. Toned. NGC graded MS-62.
Estimated Value $400-500.
Ex Irving Goodman Sale, Feb 1991, Lot 771.

Lot 5519
RUSSIA. 10 Kopecks, 1802. AI. Sev-2510; Cr-119. Alexander I. Mottled deep gray with some golden hues. NGC graded MS-62.
Estimated Value $300-400.

Lot 5520
RUSSIA. 5 Kopecks, 1802-EM. B-101; KM-N376. Edge-1. Novodel. Mintmark below eagle. Later strike with pattern dies. Alexander I. Rare. Hard brown luster with some underlying golden mint red, sharply minted, centered--very desirable! NGC graded Proof 66.
Estimated Value $750-UP.
Ex Jascha Heifetz sale, December 9-10, 1989, Superior Galleries, Lot 2171.

Lot 5521
RUSSIA. 5 Kopecks, 1802-EM. B-103; KM-N377. Edge-1. High relief. Novodel. Mintmark below date. Alexander I. A magnificent coin! Rich brown with even, underlying golden red, sharply struck with deep denticles, a little extra flan outside the border at the bottoms. NGC graded MS-65.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Ex Jascha Heifetz sale, December 9-10, 1989, Superior Galleries, Lot 2172.

Lot 5522
RUSSIA. Pattern 2 Kopecks, 1802. B-80; KM-Pn56. Plain edge. Novodel. Alexander I. Cipher. Reverse: Value and date. Very Rare. Mostly red with immaculate surfaces. NGC graded MS-66.
Estimated Value $1,000-UP.

Lot 5523
RUSSIA. Pattern 2 Kopecks, 1802. SP'. B-81; Uzd-2949. 38 mm. Novodel. Edge-0. By Leberecht. Bust of Alexander I with long neck right, mintmark below. Reverse: Value and date within concentric ring border. Fewer than three specimens known: Extremely Rare. Despite some minor scuffs on the head and on the reverse rim at 6 o'clock, this is a beautiful copper coin with glossy medium-brown surfaces and a dramatic strike. NGC graded MS-63.
Estimated Value $2,500-UP.

Lot 5524
RUSSIA. 1 Kopeck, 1802. B-52. Edge-0. Novodel. Alexander I. Superb! Mostly golden red, obverse slight off center but deeply struck, somewhat reflective surfaces. NGC graded MS-67.
Estimated Value $500-UP.

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