Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 2043. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $725. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

RUSSIA. Sophia, Regent for Ivan and Peter. 1682-1689. BI Chekh (0.72 g, 1h). Sevsk mint. Dated 1686. [I A P A D G] C & M D T M & P & A R A ("Ivan and Peter, Sons of Alexii, By the Grace of God, Czars, Grand Dukes and Autocrats of All the Russias, Great, Little and White"), crowned double-headed imperial eagle / MON NOV FACTA SIEV A 1686, small orb with cross. Spassky p. 135, fig. 97; Severin 9; KM -. VF, rough metal, edge chips. Rare. ($750)

The chekhs were minted at Sevsk in the Ukraine, and intended to replace the Polish tympfs that were the standard circulating currency, and which were widely counterfeited, not least by the Russians. Struck under primitive conditions and of poor metal, the chekhs were rejected by the populace and disappeared from circulation. Even today they are little noted; KM fails to list them in their 17th century catalogue, and few of the Russian catalogues list them under homeland issues.