Lot 2419

Description

Russia, Peter I (the Great), silver two rouble novodel, 1722, obv. laureate bust to right, rev. four crowned Cyrillic P's cruciform, reeded edge, (KM.N-G2, Sev.533, Bitkin H1749). Small scratch on reverse, otherwise well struck on a broad flan, extremely fine or better, toned and very rare.

This wonderful portrait of Peter the giant tsar (in armour with flowing scarf), makes his appearance larger than life. It is assumed by Russian numismatists that only two original strikes are known, one said to be in the Kunstkamera Museum in Saint Petersburg and the other held by the Smithsonian. The present coin is a pleasing, darkly toned extremely fine showing some commercial use, including a short scratch in the left obverse field and a tiny mark at the obverse rim at about 12 o'clock. The portrait of Peter is commanding, clearly engraved and boldly struck. The reverse, showing the modernistic cross, is similarly unblemished and shows some dirt clinging to the digits, letters and devices. In all, a pleasing example of this, the largest silver issue of Peter and his only multiple rouble.