Stack's Bowers Offers NGC-certified Russian Rarities in January Auction

Stack's Bowers Galleries is offering impressive coins from Russia's Imperial Era that are certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®), including several likely to realize six-figure prices. The coins, which are part of the Rothschild-Piatigorsky Collection, are being offered during the auction house's annual New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC) sale as part of Session F, which will be held January 13, 2024.

The coins offer a window into the era when Russia was becoming a global power. One is a Russia 1756CNB Novodel 10 Rouble graded NGC MS 63 (lot 54306), which shows Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, the first emperor of Russia. She is recognized as perhaps the most popular member of the Romanov Imperial dynasty, which ruled Russia for more than 300 years. This example, which is the only Novodel of this denomination and date in the NGC Census, has an estimate of $70,000 to $100,000.

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Another great rarity in the sale is a Russia 1762CNB 10 Roubles graded NGC MS 62 (lot 54313), which shows Peter III. This is the largest gold denomination of Peter III, who ruled for only a few months in 1762 before being ousted by his wife, Catherine II, better known as Catherine the Great. This coin, which is tied for the highest graded among the 17 examples in the NGC Census, has an estimate of $70,000 to $100,000.

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One of the most fascinating coins in the sale is a Russia 1876CNB 25 Roubles graded NGC Proof Details (lot 54358), from the time of Emperor Alexander II, who ruled from 1855 to 1881. Only 100 of these coins were struck. The bill still exists for the 1939 sale of this rarity for $306 to "Madame Piatigorski." The coin may be worth 500 times that amount today, according to the auction house, which set its estimate at $100,000 to $150,000.

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Nicholas II, the grandson of Alexander II, was the last emperor of Russia, ruling from 1894 until being deposed in 1917 amid the Russian Revolution. The auction includes a Russia 1897 AT 10 Roubles graded NGC MS 61 (lot 54385), which has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It is one of only three examples in the NGC Census, and it has the second-highest grade.

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The Rothschild-Piatigorsky Collection was assembled by renowned cellist Gregor Piatigorsky and Baroness Jacqueline de Rothschild, an heiress from a wealthy French family. After fleeing his homeland after the Russian Revolution, Piatigorsky became the principal cellist at the Berlin Philharmonic and married de Rothschild in 1937. They were forced to flee Europe during World War II, settling in the United States, where they raised their two children.

Other NGC-certified highlights from the collection in this auction include:

• a Russia 1902 37.5 Roubles graded NGC MS 62 (lot 54383), with an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000
• a Russia 1726/5 2 Roubles graded NGC MS 61 (lot 54297), with an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000
• a Russia 1727 2 Roubles - Peter II, Hair Tie graded NGC AU 53 (lot 54300), with an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000
• a Russia 1720 2 Roubles graded NGC MS 65 (lot 54291), with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000
• a Russia 1798CM OU 5 Roubles graded NGC MS 62 (lot 54329), with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000
• a Russia (1682-89) Ducat graded NGC UNC Details (lot 54289), with an estimate of $15,000 to $30,000

All estimates are provided by the auction house.