RUSSIA. Platinum 3 Rubles, 1845-CNB. St. Petersburg Mint. Nicholas I. PCGS MS-64 Prooflike Gold Shield. Fr-160; KM-C-177; Bit-91. Mintage: 50,000. A low mintage date with few examples that survive. Of those survivors, this is perhaps the finest, and it exists as the only Mint State graded example at either PCGS or NGC. A deeper inspection into archived auction records compiled on Russias "Mint" portal seems to confirm this coins <strong>EXTREME RARITY</strong>, as only seven auction records appear, the most recent being in 2017 and the earliest cited being 1969. Of those, three examples are recorded as proofs, while none of the examples cited as business strikes have been cataloged above Extremely Fine quality. This example easily exceeds those standards however, with strong gleam appearing in the fields and pleasing contrast on the devices. A few instances of trivial handling are noted upon close inspection, but no instance is bothersome. As such, a tremendous opportunity for the advanced collector of Russian rarities. <p><p><em>The discovery of platinum in the Urals of Western Siberia resulted in the production of three new Russian decimal coinage denominations. By the imperial decree of April 24, 1828, platinum coinage was initiated for circulation. The minting of platinum coinage in 19th century Russia was done on a very limited basis and for a period of less than two decades. The new coinage denominations were not well-received by the public, as they were produced in a pale white metal that was unfamiliar in circulation. In 1845, an imperial decree was issued ordering the minting of platinum coinage to cease. Simultaneously, the existing pieces were ordered to be recalled within a six month period. For this reason, much of the original mintages were redeemed and destroyed, which accounts for their rarity today. As the allowable six month period was too short for all the platinum issues to be redeemed and destroyed, it is largely responsible for the examples known today.</em>
