Watch List notes:

Russia - Platinum 3 Roubles 1844 СПБ, Platina munten, NICHOLAS I 1825–1855 St. Petersburg. Crowned double-headed imperial eagle. Rev. value and date.Bitkin 90 (R); Sev. 644 (S); Uzd. 409 (S); Fr. 160.In 1828 the Russian Czar Nicholas I ordered platinum to be struck coins after significant deposits of ore were discovered in the Ural mountains. Pieces of 3, 6 and 12 Rouble coins were struck in platinum at the Imperial Mint in St. Petersburg. Despite being a complicated technological process, the St. Petersburg mint used about 20 tonnes of platinum ore from 1828 to 1845, producing more than 1.3 million 3 Rouble pieces. The monetary side of this endeavor proved to be less successful, however, as the Russian populace detested these coins and often confused the metal for silver. That is why the Russian government decided to demonetize the entire population of platinum coins in 1843, which was sold to various platinum refineries throughout Europe.10.27 g. Several surface knocks and scratches (probably test-marks), otherwise very fine.