Sept. 26 to bid "Orders, medals and coins of Imperial Russia" Auction House "Empire" exhibited unique gold medal, weighing 243 grams. pure gold and 8 cm Estimate 5.000.000rub and more. This medal minted in commemoration of peace with Turkey, July 10, 1774, is the largest and most expensive of the medal existed at that time equivalent to the cost of the 200-meters silver rubles, Catherine II. The award of this award showed the highest location of the Empress.
For comparison, the photo next to put a silver medal and a gold ruble Catherine II:
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In 1782 Catherine II awarded this medal, Jean Joseph de Fedi Tersaka Abbot Church of Saint Sulpice in Paris, where the subject and kept in the family of his descendants to the present. Fedi de Tersak was a prominent spiritual figure of his era and the famous philanthropist, the fame of which reached the Empress of Russia. Most of all, Catherine II was interested in the successes abbot de Tersaka in the organization of charitable institutions. His experience he described in two books, which have been studied in detail by Catherine II. It is through these works, and improve internal organization of the beloved offspring of the Empress: educational buildings in Moscow and St. Petersburg became the first attempts Rossiyskogo States to accept social responsibility for vulnerable populations.
A similar coin in no other museum in the world. Even the State Hermitage Museum has in its collection of gold medals Catherine II of this size. It is because of items such level in Russia formed the private collections of national importance. Of particular note is the fact that the medal returned to Russia during the economic crisis. Despite financial difficulties, the representatives Rossiyskogo businesses continue to invest substantial funds in the return of national cultural heritage, has declined significantly over the past 80 years.
Gold medals of the XVIII century are extremely rare, however, occasionally they appear on the auction. Here are some examples of sales of these items:
Nagel SA 2/12/2008 Medal of Catherine II's trip to the Crimea. Diameter 65mm. $ 120,000.
Coins and Medals 29/31 Medal to commemorate the conclusion of peace with Turkey, in 1791. Diameter 53,5 mm. $ 65,000.
Coins and Medals 39/166 Medal in memory of the Empress Catherine II's trip to the Crimea. Diameter 65,2 mm. $ 150,000.
Empire 5 /41 Medal to commemorate the coronation of the Empress Catherine II. Diameter 51mm. $ 120,000.
As you can see, all these things much less presented medals and did not have such an interesting provenance that, ultimately, should significantly affect the final price.
Auction "Orders, medals and coins of Imperial Russia" Auction House Empire will be held September 26 at 12:30 am at the hotel "Marriott" MOSCOW ROYAL AURORA (Moscow, St. Petrovka 11/20).