Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
January 2017 NYINC Auction 12-14 January 2017
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RUSSIA. Establishment of the Imperial Academy of Arts Jetons in Gold & Bronze, 1765. Catherine II (The Great) (1762-96). NGC MS-61 & MS-61 BN.
Bit-1363 (R3) & 1365 (R2); Dia-128.5 (Au R3 Ae R1); Smir-251. 2 pieces in lot. VERY RARE 22 mm pieces featuring the Imperial cipher of Catherine II surrounded by a laurel wreath on the obverse and a nine line inscription commemorating the re-dedication of the Academy and its opening on June 28th, 1765. Originally founded as the "Academy of Three Noble Arts" during the reign of Elizabeth the institution was renamed by Catherine II who also commissioned a massive new building for the Academy along the Neva River which would not be completed until 1788 and still remains today. Over the centuries the Academy has been the heart of Russian artistic learning and instruction with a long list of prominent painters, sculptors and architects as alumni. The Jetons offered here represent two thirds of the three piece type set which was produced slightly later than the originals with only the silver example absent. The bronze version is noted in several references as only being produced as a restrike and both of these pieces share a common reverse die with a notable die crack stemming from a small cud at 10 o'clock. Even so they are just as important as the originals and are among some of the rarest Jetons of Catherine II. Both pieces have been well preserved and handled with care over the years showing original surfaces and no detracting marks of any kind. Each has a pleasing coloration for its respective metal with the gold toned a pleasing slightly muted yellow with glints of orange lustrous highlights among some of the lettering while the bronze shows a handsome old mahogany tone on the obverse and a deep dark chocolate on the reverse. The only such pieces to have been certified by NGC with only one other bronze example certified by PCGS. A highly desirable pair of great historical value begging for a collector to reunite them with their silver sibling. NGC MS-61 & MS-61 BN.
Estimate: $18000.00- $22000.00
Bit-1363 (R3) & 1365 (R2); Dia-128.5 (Au R3 Ae R1); Smir-251. 2 pieces in lot. VERY RARE 22 mm pieces featuring the Imperial cipher of Catherine II surrounded by a laurel wreath on the obverse and a nine line inscription commemorating the re-dedication of the Academy and its opening on June 28th, 1765. Originally founded as the "Academy of Three Noble Arts" during the reign of Elizabeth the institution was renamed by Catherine II who also commissioned a massive new building for the Academy along the Neva River which would not be completed until 1788 and still remains today. Over the centuries the Academy has been the heart of Russian artistic learning and instruction with a long list of prominent painters, sculptors and architects as alumni. The Jetons offered here represent two thirds of the three piece type set which was produced slightly later than the originals with only the silver example absent. The bronze version is noted in several references as only being produced as a restrike and both of these pieces share a common reverse die with a notable die crack stemming from a small cud at 10 o'clock. Even so they are just as important as the originals and are among some of the rarest Jetons of Catherine II. Both pieces have been well preserved and handled with care over the years showing original surfaces and no detracting marks of any kind. Each has a pleasing coloration for its respective metal with the gold toned a pleasing slightly muted yellow with glints of orange lustrous highlights among some of the lettering while the bronze shows a handsome old mahogany tone on the obverse and a deep dark chocolate on the reverse. The only such pieces to have been certified by NGC with only one other bronze example certified by PCGS. A highly desirable pair of great historical value begging for a collector to reunite them with their silver sibling. NGC MS-61 & MS-61 BN.
Estimate: $18000.00- $22000.00