Russia Alexander I copper "Portrait" Novodel 2 Kopecks 1802-CПБ

Russia
Alexander I copper "Portrait" Novodel 2 Kopecks 1802-CПБ MS64 Brown PCGS, St. Petersburg mint, KM-Pn57, Ilyin-75 Rub., Petrov-300 Rub., cf. Plate 42, 29 (there, with inner border), Bit-H696 (R3), Uzd-3010 (Very Rare), cf. Kaim-174 (there, with inner border; see also Kaim pg. 42, 11), Brekke-81 (Extremely Rare). Plain edge. By Leberecht. An extraordinarily rare Pattern type, and one of only an exceedingly small number of Russian coins to carry the effigy of Tsar Alexander I, which Brekke ascribes to his strong religious convictions. While there has been some disagreement as to whether the present issue is more properly a Pattern or Novodel--and indeed the design was described as an original Pattern in both the Tolstoy and Soedermann sales--Brekke contends that they were struck after the date they carry, further stating that only the mints of Ekaterinburg and Kolyvan were operational between 1802 and 1810. Regardless, the issue's status as among the most challenging copper coins of Alexander can hardly be disputed. Missing from both the Goodman and Sincona collections, and not mentioned by Forrer under his entry for Leberecht, we have been able to trace fewer than 10 examples having come to auction in the last century. Certainly finer than the specimen plated by Bitkin, Brekke, Uzdenikov, and the Standard Catalog, it is quite likely that this is among the nicest available to collectors, and remains the sole piece yet certified. Lightly mottled in red-brown color, the strike over both sides has been rendered with great care and ideal centering, weakness absent from the features, with only the most stray marks precluding fully gem certification. We note that while the online Russian numismatic portal M-DV.ru states that this coin is originally from the Soedermann Collection, we have been unable to verify this information.

Ex. Heritage Auction #3061 (January 2018, Lot 32469); Dr. Robert D. Hesselgesser Collection (Goldberg Auction 31, May 2005, Lot 1944); Goldberg Auction 5 (June 2000, Lot 5523)

https://coins.ha.com/itm/russia/russia-alexander-i-copper-portrait-novodel-2-kopecks-1802-cand-1055-and-1041-ms64-brown-pcgs-/a/3097-30362.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3097-01102022

HID02906262019

© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Estimate: 20000-30000 USD