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September Signature Currency Sale 4025 18 Sep 2020
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Russia Russian-American Company 10 Kopeks ND (1820s-1860s) Pick Unlisted PMG Very Fine 25. Historic, rare, obscure, interesting: all terms to describe this financial instrument of the early to mid 19th century. While Western European powers were expanding their empires in Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific, Imperial Russia took a different approach. In 1799, the Russian-American Company was founded by the charter of Emperor Paul I. The goal of the company was to establish trading in the Eastern Pacific, which at that time was largely underappreciated. Over the course of the subsequent 70 years or so, a number of provisional outposts were created by the Russian-American Company, from Alaska to California, including Baja California and Hawaii. Pelts of Sea Otters, Walrus tusks, and Whale products, among others, were traded back to Russia. To facilitate local trade in within their sphere of influence, crudely made but useful currency was created. Offered here is an initial denomination of the series, for which small change and larger denominations were prepared intermittently during the 19th century. Printed on durable walrus skin, these notes circulated in various trading post locales from Alaska to Baha California. As is commonplace for extant examples, the serial number is no longer visible. However, much detail still remains, especially on the back and around the crest, this despite considerable circulation and some ink transfer. Two punched holes at top are seen. Any relic from the Russian-American Company is extremely rare today. This note is one of only a small quantity known to exist. After the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, the commercial aspects of the Russian-American Company were sold off and became the Alaska Commercial Company, based in San Francisco. The grading company notes ink rub on the holder. https://currency.ha.com/itm/world-currency/russia-russian-american-company-10-kopeks-nd-1820s-1860s-pick-unlisted-pmg-very-fine-25/a/4025-28598.s?type=CoinArchivesCurrency4025 HID08706262019 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 6000-9000 USD
Russia Russian-American Company 10 Kopeks ND (1820s-1860s) Pick Unlisted PMG Very Fine 25. Historic, rare, obscure, interesting: all terms to describe this financial instrument of the early to mid 19th century. While Western European powers were expanding their empires in Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific, Imperial Russia took a different approach. In 1799, the Russian-American Company was founded by the charter of Emperor Paul I. The goal of the company was to establish trading in the Eastern Pacific, which at that time was largely underappreciated. Over the course of the subsequent 70 years or so, a number of provisional outposts were created by the Russian-American Company, from Alaska to California, including Baja California and Hawaii. Pelts of Sea Otters, Walrus tusks, and Whale products, among others, were traded back to Russia. To facilitate local trade in within their sphere of influence, crudely made but useful currency was created. Offered here is an initial denomination of the series, for which small change and larger denominations were prepared intermittently during the 19th century. Printed on durable walrus skin, these notes circulated in various trading post locales from Alaska to Baha California. As is commonplace for extant examples, the serial number is no longer visible. However, much detail still remains, especially on the back and around the crest, this despite considerable circulation and some ink transfer. Two punched holes at top are seen. Any relic from the Russian-American Company is extremely rare today. This note is one of only a small quantity known to exist. After the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, the commercial aspects of the Russian-American Company were sold off and became the Alaska Commercial Company, based in San Francisco. The grading company notes ink rub on the holder. https://currency.ha.com/itm/world-currency/russia-russian-american-company-10-kopeks-nd-1820s-1860s-pick-unlisted-pmg-very-fine-25/a/4025-28598.s?type=CoinArchivesCurrency4025 HID08706262019 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 6000-9000 USD