FINEST COLLECTION OF ALASKAN RUSSIAN-AMERICAN MONEY FEATURED IN KAGIN'S MARCH 11-12 AUCTION

Believed to be the finest collection of Alaskan Russian-American Money is being offered inKagin's March 11-12, 2021 Auction on-line and live in the San Francisco Bay area. The Joe UsibelliCollection of six of these rare notes, plus an additional note includes some of the finest examples ofthese early and mid-19th century banknotes. The offering is tied for the third largest ever.

Highlights include 10 Kopecks PMG NEW-61 Ex: John J. Ford, Jr. Collection; 25 Kopecks PMG NEW-62; 50Kopecks PMG VERY CHOICE NEW-63; one of two known 1 Rouble on aqua-green parchment gradedPMG Extremely Fine-40 tear repair Ex: Henry Clifford Collection; and 1 Rouble on mustard coloredparchment PMG graded AU-50 Ex: Henry Clifford, John J. Ford, Jr.

Russian-American Company money appeals to U.S. currency collectors, world papermoney buyers, Alaskan, California and Russian collectors, and Odd & Curious/ Primitive Moneycollectors.

As early as 1741 Alaska had become part of Russia's land holdings and by 1790 the local fur tradingindustry flourished.

In 1799 Czar Paul I purchased shares in the semi-autonomous Russian-American Company, tomonopolize on the trade in Russian America. By 1811 their holdings eventually encompassed parts ofCalifornia as far south as Fort Ross.

A major aspect of the fur trading Russian-American Company enterprise consisted of shipping otter andseal skins to China in waterproof bags made of walrus leather skins. The bags were reused to wrapshipments of various spices bound for Russian ports. In 1816 select pieces to be cut from the walrusbags and stamped with seven different values including 10, 25, and 50 Kopeks, and 1, 5, 10 and 25Roubles to pay colonial employees and facilitated commerce. Other issues were printed in1822, 1826, 1834, 1842, 1845 and 1852 although according to the cataloger less than 50 of these notesare currently extant.

The entire 408 page catalog can be viewed on-line at www.Kagins.com or call 888-8KAGINS(852-4467).