RUSSIA. 2 Rubles Novodel, 1722. Peter I (The Great). PCGS SPECIMEN-65.

Fr-91; KM-158.6; Bit-163; Sev-92. A fantastic Novodel issue Double Ducat, this true stunner flashes with nearly mirrored fields and crisply struck details. Inconsequential contact exists, so inconsequential that it barely is worth mentioning. The fields are so deep that they are easy to get lost in. Almost all 2 Rubles issues from this time period are RARE, but this Novodel issue appears even rarer, reaching the class of ULTRA-RARE. No contemporary auction records exist for this type of Novodel, and extensive research uncovered only one example ever offered at auction, a piece from an April 1932 Adolph Hess auction as lot #575. Salton's father was active in Germany at the time, making this example almost certainly the same piece. With this being the first time such an example has been offered in 90 years, it is needless to say chances to acquire such a specimen do not present themselves. Spirited rivalry will rule the day when this Gem is offered, making it very likely that the upper bound of the estimate is far surpassed.

From the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection.