6004

50 KOPECKS (1842-1858) Kardakoff 53.1 PMG 50 EPQ Serial # 13902

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:17,500.00 USD Estimated At:NA
50 KOPECKS (1842-1858) Kardakoff 53.1 PMG 50 EPQ Serial # 13902
SOLD
34,000.00USD+ buyer's premium (6,800.00)
This item SOLD at 2021 Mar 15 @ 16:03UTC-8 : PST/AKDT

Lot: 6004
Header: EXCEPTIONALLY BOLD HIGH GRADE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN COMPANY 50 KOPECKS NOTE
EX: F.C.C. Boyd, John J. Ford

Title: 50 KOPECKS (1842-1858) Kardakoff 53.1 PMG 50 EPQ Serial # 13902
Description: From the Stacks 1/18/05:1233 sale of the John J. Ford Collection: “Rectangular with top two corners evenly clipped as issued. 64mm X 62mm. Black on off-white parchment with very minor surface granulation. Creamy white texture and a most natural appearance as proper. The surfaces are essentially very smooth on both sides. Despite having a crease at the left side, the note has the look of choice uncirculated. The color of the parchment has a natural off-white and creamy hue that is quite lovely and there are no flaws at all except for some minor handling. This might be the finest note of this type to cross the auction block in many years or decades… a showpiece. [bold type as written]” This was the single finest RAC note in the John J. Ford Collection.
The face with the company seal using a double headed Imperial Russian eagle within an oval frame, legend in Russian translated UNDER THE HIGH PATRONAGE OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY. The denomination in words below the seal; the letters thicker than most known specimens.
The back has a finely engraved oval protector with spiral details with the Russian legend translated NOTE IN AMERICA with the denomination “50 KOP” below. The serial number frame with “No” is at the bottom of the oval, outlined to allow the exceptionally bold hand written serial number to be written in. As a matter of fact, the back is one of if not the most deeply black inked Russian-American Company note we have seen! The note is signed but only faintly seen at the right.
The Zander census only enumerated ten examples with one being a forgery (we now know of another forgery). Two are in museums and the two in the Smythe sale were well worn. We now believe there are at least eight extant including three new specimens. This piece, the PMG CU-63 offered previously and the PMG Very Choice 64 EPQ.

Low Estimate: 35000
High Estimate: 50000
Grading Company:
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Pedigree/Collection: Ex: F.C.C. Boyd, John J. Ford, Stacks 1/05:1233, Donald H. U5Kagin, Joe Usibelli