An entirely new numismatic discovery is set to cause a stir at the 2012 New York International Numismatic Convention. Lot 2092, a 1766 pattern Rouble depicting the bust of Catherine II, has for the first time been linked to a monumental official painting of the Tsarina by renowned artist Fedor Rokotov (pictured below with the 1766 Rouble). The lot is one of the greatest rarities in the Russian series and it is estimated that this piece will sell for around US$1,000,000.

In 1766 it was decided that a new medallic portrait of the Empress was required and lot 2092 is the pattern created by an unknown die engraver. Clearly officially commissioned (as indicated by the pattern's mintmark and the master's initials) the engraver would have been given one or more official portraits of Catherine to use as a model. However, the bust most resembles the 1763 painting of Catherine by Fyodor Rokotov.

The coin collection of the Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, one of the finest Russian collections ever assembled, lacked an example. The Grand Duke himself knew of only two specimens, one in the Hermitage and the other in a private collection. In the Renaissance Sale of August 2000 an example was sold by public auction. The specimen offered here, a better example than the other two, brings the count up to three known pieces. It is unclear however whether the piece offered in the Renaissance Sale or the piece offered here is the 'private collection specimen' referred to by Grand Duke Mikhailovich.

This coin will be sold as part of The New York Sale XXVII-XXIX, alongside the spectacular Prospero Collection of ancient Greek coins, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in January 2012.

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