Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1591. Estimate $10000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $32500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

RUSSIA, Tsars of Russia. Nikolai I Pavlovich. 1825-1855. AR Rouble (20.84 g, 12h). Sankt-Peterburg (St. Petersburg) mint; Nikolai Grachev, mintmaster. Dated 1828. (flower) MOHETA PУБЛЬ 1828 ГOДA., crowned double-headed imperial eagle facing with wings displayed, holding filleted thunderbolt and wreath; coat-of-arms of Moskva on breast; above, imperial crown; н-г flanking tail / ЧИCTAГO/CEPEБPA/4 ЗOЛOTHИKA/21 ДOЛЯ/——/C.П.Б. in six lines across field; imperial crown above; all within laurel and oak wreath. On edge: CEP • 83 1/3 ПPOБЫ 7 ЗOЛ • 82 14/25 ДOЛИ é. Bitkin 106; Severin 2940; Uzdenikov 1518. NGC photo graded PF 64. A “wings down” specimen and of the highest rarity in proof condition.

Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 53 (7 November 1990), lot 1352.

Nikolai I was an unpopular tsar who led Russia to a series of military disasters, culminating in the Crimean War (1854-1856). He was also a tyrant who drove Russia backwards during his thirty-three year reign.