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Ten ruble coin in gold: Rare specimen
Photo: Künker auction house / dpa
An old Russian gold coin was sold at an auction in Osnabrück for 210,000 euros - more than 230 times what was originally offered by a dealer.
A spokeswoman for the Künker auction house confirmed a corresponding report in the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" on Friday.
According to the information, a 70-year-old Berliner came across the heirloom from his father while cleaning up.
The coin with the portrait of Empress Elisabeth (1709-62) dates from 1757.
One trader interviewed declared the coin to be counterfeit, while a second only wanted to pay 900 euros for it.
During further research, the Berliner and his wife came across comparable coins in the auction house's catalog.
The auction house's estimate was 150,000 euros
There, an expert recognized that there are only a few copies of this ten ruble coin in gold.
The Empress did not like the portrait made by a Swiss engraver, even if, according to contemporaries, it was very similar to her.
Therefore, the production was stopped, said the Künker spokeswoman.
The exact fate of this coin is not known, it was said.
However, the seller's father was born in St. Petersburg in 1904 during the times of the Tsar.
The coin entered the auction on Thursday evening with an estimated price of 150,000 euros.
According to the newspaper report, the Berliner, who was not mentioned by name, wants to pay off his apartment from the 210,000 euros achieved.
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wit / dpa
