Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 2165. Estimate $45000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $60000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

RUSSIA. Nicholas I. 1825-1855. Platinum 12 Rubles. St. Petersburg mint. Dated 1845. Mintage: 2. Crowned double-headed imperial eagle, holding sceptre and orb, state coat-of-arms on breast with six provincial arms on wings; crown above / Legend and date. Severin 649; Uzdenikov 410; Friedberg 158; KM 179. In NGC slab, graded AU58. ($45,000)

A pair of classic Russian rarities; the low mintage of the 1845 platinum 6 and 12 rubles was only surpassed by the unique 1840 three piece set struck for Count Tolstoi.