Ratzie33

What is this? Thank you for your time.

I’ll let you find the denomination but it is a silver coin.

Raised up at least 2mm from the surface of the coin, appearing to have a matte finish.

I know it sounds like an oxymoron but then I found this coin...

Looking at the L in HALF and the tail feather to the right of center it look like it was struck multiple times

Not listed as a proof but rather gem unc

Many times when people list coins for sale online they take advantage of lighting to sell a coin. Is that the case here?

I think one picture is taken with the capsule on which is distorted the refraction of light

yes I think so, look at the line on the right side of the L . And the rim Break below the base of the L. Also the wire rim. Those would be hard to duplicate. The wire rim has a finning, or shelf-like protrusion toward the edge that no two coins have alike.

And the strike is impeccable, no die blobs in the lettering, a deep and intentioned strike. However I did read somewhere in my many perusings that the obverse of some 1964 Kennedy sms halves show a distinctive rose gold, or pinkish hughing.

I was thinking a toned proof, but then I saw the reverse.

The coin doesn’t have a scratch or a nick on it suggesting special handling.

No die polishing lines either but the surface is a bit grainy...sandblasted maybe?

Here’s the thing I don’t believe this is an sms coin, appears to have a matte finish. No teardrop on the four, no straight g, but very square and wire like rims. The strike is indicative of a higher tonnage press with no beveling. It’s almost the accented hair variety but with no straight g and no breaks in the star rays. This is a bit of an oddity. Also not shiny or reflective enough to be a proof.

In 1886 Tsar Alexander III rejected a pattern rouble simply because the relief was not high enough for his liking. These coins are difficult to pick out. In this case the differences are far more pronounced and readily apparent. The termination of the elongation of proportion created a series of necessary changes to the final design. Some buttoning up here and beard and hair trimming there.

WHEREAS this coin is incredibly unique: lacking edge lettering and has a strange double toned rim.

Hey buddy, welcome to the forum. So almost(exceptions being RUSS patterns and the 100 franc ruble) all coins of ruble denomination or higher have incise edge lettering looking something like this 1844 rouble.

I did a little research and found pattern RUSS gold rouble coins from 1895 with planed down edges purposefully executed at the mint to reduce the impact of the edge lettering many times to a nonexistent state altogether. Taking a careful examination of Nikolai’s bust it is evident there is a severe elongation of proportion, along with a thicker fuller beard, and no lower incuse cheek bone connecting with the lower portion of the eye. The shading of the middle portion of the beard on the cheek makes it look like he has a smily-dimple. The forehead is angled completely straight down without any defining line running parallel. The shape of the nose and nostril as well as the lacking eyebrow ridge. The mustache line has a different double bump shape, and the definition and detail in the beginning if the sideburn hair is noticeable. Overall the detailing of the hair is entirely different and smoother. Where the hairline meets the neck there is no definite contour, just a few dispersed angled lines. Where the hair meets the forehead there is more space with a severe downward angle. The eye slit is far smaller, and the space between the eye and the hair far greater. He has an actual eyelid. He looks kinda like a beady-eyed Bearnstein Bear. The smile line is clearly evident and not hidden by mustache hair, and there is no steep angle at the end of the mustache pointing upward, allowing him a softer less severe, and friendlier complexion: DEFINITELY not the preferred image of a Tsar. There is a little bump underneath his chin, on his neck: like a weak Adam’s apple. Not the desired virility a Tsar would liken to. And finally the edge of the coin is smooth lacking any lettering. It also appears thicker than 2.7mm and looks bimetallic. Pattern Proof Coin pictured first Regular Strike pictured second