We have another exceptional gold coin to preview from our upcoming Stack’s
Bowers Galleries ANA World’s Fair of Money auction which will be held in
Anaheim, California this August. This coin is an extremely rare commemorative
issue celebrating the 40th birthday of Russian Tsar Nicholas II. At the time of
this coin’s production in 1908, the Russian Empire had begun its decline. The
Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) was a disaster for Russia. It culminated with the
Battle of Tsushima when, after steaming 16,000 miles across the globe, nearly
the entire Russian Baltic Fleet was destroyed. Losing a military conflict to
the Japanese inflicted enormous damage to the prestige of the Tsarist
government, both at home and abroad. It also greatly damaged the Russian
economy, and led directly to the Revolution of 1905 wherein social unrest
spread throughout the empire. The revolution was finally put down in June 1907,
but not before the establishment of the State Duma, the multi-party system, and
the Russian Constitution of 1906, all of which would have been unthinkable only
a few years earlier. Yet at the time this coin was struck, all of the pomp and
royal privilege of the Tsarist autocracy was still intact, at least as far as
coinage was concerned.
The piece offered here is the single finest graded example seen by PCGS
and NGC, and is one of only four submissions for the date. While 1896-dated
pieces struck for Nicholas’ coronation also exist, they are not as coveted as
the 1908-dated coins. With the piece presented here being the very finest
graded example, and quite possibly the finest extant as well, the desirability
of this Proof cannot be overemphasized. The mirrored fields are nearly
flawless, with deep hard ice reflectivity. The portrait is also virtually
flawless, and retains the regal qualities first employed on Nicholas II’s
coinage a dozen years earlier at his coronation. Bright yellow gold and beaming
luster enhance the appeal of this fantastic piece that is certain to draw
considerable bidding action.
We are now accepting consignments of world and ancient coins for our
August 2016 ANA Auction as well as Chinese and other Asian coins and currency
for our August 2016 Hong Kong Showcase Auction. Time is running short, so if
you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole
collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one of our consignment
directors.
