Russian Coins

Lot 2213    Session 8 (2.30pm Thursday)    Russian Coins

Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

RUSSIA, ingots, cast silver grivna of Kiev, 11th-13th century, (c.170 grams), (cf.Spassky fig.43 p.64); 'Lithuanian' grivnas (2) thinner than the Novgorod ingots, each (c.100 grams) as long bars with one having a broad transversal dent on one side and several minor transversal scratches or cuts on the other side, they are claimed to represent business inscriptions (p.67), (cf.Spassky fig.45 p.66); Novgorod rouble bar late 14th and 15th century (c.100 grams) with similar transversal scratches and cuts together with circular stamps one a four line legend, another with circular dotted border and enclosing an 'eagle', also two more stamps overstruck on each other of uncertain legend. Very fine and rare. (4)

These four ingots do have an old appearance particularly the 'Lithuanian' grivnas however their weights differ from those noted by Spassky (ie.200 grams) and are obviously half the grivna weights noted by the Spassky example. The Kiev grivna is 12 grams heavier than other published examples. The last rouble bar is most interesting because of the marks.