Heritage to Auction Fabulous Collection Of Russian Imperial Currency

Dallas, TX -- Heritage Numismatics Auctions of Dallas has received a museum-quality collection of Russian paper money for sale in its July 2002 auction in New York City. The “St. Petersburg” Collection of Imperial Russian Currency, formed over a span of many decades, may be the finest to ever be assembled. More than 150 different pieces range from Catherine the Great’s issues of 1787 to the rare and beautiful portrait issues of the 1860s and 1870s. Included are many extremely rare issues, types, and denominations for which only a handful of specimens are known. This museum-quality accumulation is likely to set price records across the board, as this is the finest opportunity in years for collectors of rare Russian currency.

“As many collectors and dealers know,” noted Heritage Executive VP Greg Rohan, “most Russian currency that is seen in the marketplace today is so common as to be virtually worthless. Even the issues from the late Czarist period are extremely common, and thus ignored by foreign currency dealers. When shown photos of the notes in the “St. Petersburg” Collection, however, even the most jaded specialists in Russian currency were astounded. Many had never seen examples of these notes! More than half of these notes are so rare that they are simply unpriced in most standard reference books and catalogs.”

“The St. Petersburg Collection,” added Bob Korver, Heritage’s Auction Director, “ranges from the “cocktail napkin” issues of the late 18th century to the elegant “Double Headed” eagle designs of the mid-1800s, to the colorful engraved portrait issues of the 1860s and 1870s. This is a virtually complete set by type and denomination of the early Czarist issues; even more importantly, many dates of the notes included have never before been offered for public sale. This collection is certain to excite every specialist, collector, or student of Russian numismatics. Our NYC sale of this collection will certainly rank at the top of foreign currency offerings this year, and collectors of Russian currency may not have another opportunity of this nature for decades to come.”

Highlights of the St. Petersburg collection:
1787 5 Rubles
1787 10 Rubles
1808 10 Rubles
1808 50 Rubles
1810 25 Rubles
1826 10 Rubles
1830 200 Rubles
1841 50 Rubles
1843 50 Rubles Specimen
1854 5 Rubles
1866 50 Rubles
1872 100 Rubles
Images of these notes can be seen at www.HeritageCoin.com

Consignments for Heritage’s July 2002 NYC Signature Sale will be accepted through June 15. For consignment information, please call our Consignment Hotline at Ext. 222 or contact Leo Frese at 1-800-872-6467 Ext. 294; e-mail Leo@HeitageCoin.com.

The Heritage name is recognized worldwide for bringing unparalleled value to every consignor and bidder. HeritageCoin.com is the Internet's most popular and highly trafficked rare coin site, with 50,000 registered members. HeritageCoin.com is the only coin site chosen twice by Forbes Best of the Web (1999 and 2001) as one of the 250 best websites on the Internet, and also won the most recent Numismatic Literary Guild award for Best Numismatic Internet Site.