Y-71; Bit-326. RARE. Struck to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Gangut, a naval battle against Sweden that resulted in the first ever victory for the Russian navy during the Great Northern War. Historically speaking, the Russian navy didnt exist prior to the reign of Peter The Great, with the battle having vindicated The Tsars policies to greatly expand it. The anniversary of the battle is still celebrated in Russia today. As a type, it would appear that most of the few surviving examples of this rare coin have been submitted multiple times at the grading services, rendering the population reports less than reliable when making an accurate assessment of the coins availability. A far better proxy for the coins true value and desirability rests in auction results, which lend the unmistakable aura of rarity and desirability to the piece in this state of preservation. Light tone clings to the obverse legends and deeper recesses of the portrait, with an almost antique looking patination evident on the reverse double-headed eagle. The luster in the fields exhibits absolutely no fluctuation between the open areas and protected areas, convincingly demonstrating the choice status of the coin. Free of abrasions, and with only the most trivial of marks, the condition of the coin is without question CHOICE BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED, as confirmed by the NGC MS-63 assigned grade. A coin that is missing from nearly all collections of late Russian Imperial coinage, the piece offered here is an opportunity not to be missed.NGC MS-63.
