DNW Slates All-Russian Sale

On September 17 at 2 p.m. London-time, the auction-house of Dix Noonan Webb will be conducting their first-ever sale devoted entirely to Russian coins and historical medals. These date from the 14th century to the 21st century.

Center-piece of the catalog is an old collection of Russian historical medals mainly formed in the 1960s and 1970s. Three highlights from this collection include an extremely fine and very rare 1704 silver medal by I. Konstantinov from the reign of Peter the Great. It commemorates the Capture of Narva. The medal, estimated at £3,000-4,000, presents a uniformed & laureate bust of Peter I on the obverse and a view of the bombardment of Narva on the reverse.

Rare Peter the Great silver medal of 1704 commemorating the Capture of Narva. In EF it will carry an estimate of £3,000-4,000 when offered for sale by Dix Noonan Webb on Sept. 17. Images courtesy DNW.

A very rare silver medal by T. Ivanov and G.C. Waechter commemorates the coronation of Catherine the Great in 1762. The crowned bust of the Empress is shown on the obverse. Mother Russia and Faith stand either side of an altar on the reverse with Providence above holding crown and scepter. In EF its estimate is £3,000-£4,000.

The coronation of Catherine the Great in 1762 is celebrated on this rare silver medal by T. Ivanov and G.C. Waechter. The Empress is front and center on the obverse. Mother Russia, Faith and Providence feature on the reverse. In EF the estimate is £3,000-£4,000. Images courtesy DNW.

Thirdly is a second silver rarity from Catherine’s reign by G.C. and J.G. Waechter dated 1771. The obverse legend translates as ‘Count Grigoriev Grigorievich Orlov Roman Imperial Prince’. The reverse shows him armored and on horseback with Moscow in the background. Orlov was Catherine’s principal lover. It was he that led the coup which overthrew her husband, Tsar Peter III, and saw her installed as Empress.

Silver rarity of 1771 by G.C. and J.G. Waechter. The obverse shows an effigy of Catherine the Great’s lover, Count Grigory Grigorievich Orlov. On the reverse he rides clad in classical armor before Moscow. Apart from organizing the conspiracy which deposed Catherine’s husband, Peter III, and elevated her to the throne, Orlov led the team who restored order to Moscow in 1771 following riots sparked by a severe outbreak of bubonic plague. The estimate is a solid £9,000-£12,000. Images courtesy DNW.

The legend on the reverse in exergue makes direct reference to the bubonic plague that struck Moscow in 1771 and precipitated a three-day riot. Orlov was sent to the city to restore order in which he was fully successful.

The design is seldom encountered in silver and it is expected this medal will attract considerable attention and correspondingly it carries a hefty estimate of £9,000-£12,000.

In addition there are about two hundred lots of coins. For those into medieval pieces, among the lots is a good selection of ‘wire money’.

Full catalog details along with bidding instruction and can be sourced at www.dnw.co.uk.

Catherine the Great DNW J.G. Waechter Peter the Great Russian medals T. Ivanov

Kerry RodgersAuthor