100 Ruble Gold Coin 1999 Przhevalsky Proof PR69DCAM

N.M. Przhevalsky

What makes this specimen very special is that it is certified by PCGS with the PR69DCAM (Deep Cameo) grade. It is the only edition in the world that has reached this level! In addition, the coin was protected by PCGS through the “NFC anti-counterfeiting technology”.

Certificate Exam.

Details of the gold coin:

Face value: 100 rubles
Embossing Quality: Proof
Fineness: 900/1000
Fine weight: 15,55g
Diameter: 30mm (±0.25)
Thickness: 1.70mm (±0.20)
Mintage: 1000
Mint: St. Petersburg Mint (SPMD)
Edge: 240 corrugations
Geographical series: Russian explorers in Central Asia

Front

In the center of the coin – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (double-headed eagle by the artist I. Bilibin, below the semicircular inscription “Bank of Russia”), framed by a circle of dots and inscriptions along the edge: above – “Hundred rubles”, below – “1999”, left – data on the metal, alloy grade, right – fineness of the precious metal and the mint mark (SPMD).

Back

Picture of expedition members on the shore of the lake, right – the year in two lines “1876” “1877”, bottom left – swimming fish, right – a wild camel. Above – birds and an inscription on the perimeter: “THE LOBNOR EXPEDITION”.

History

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky, (1839 – 1888) – Russian traveler, explorer of Central Asia, honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1878), leader of an expedition to the Ussuriiskiy region (1867-1869) and 4 expeditions to Central Asia (1870-1885). During all these expeditions he covered more than 30 thousand kilometers. The scientific results of the expeditions are recorded in a series of books that give a vivid picture of the nature and features of the relief, climate, rivers, lakes, vegetation and fauna of the areas studied. He collected extensive zoological (over 7.5 thousand specimens of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish), botanical (over 1700 species) and mineralogical collections. He established the direction of the main mountain ranges in Central Asia, discovered a number of new ranges, clarified the northern boundaries of the Tibetan Plateau, and described Lake Lobnor. He discovered and described the wild camel, a wild horse that was later named after him.

In 1888, Przewalski set out on another “exploration.” He led a group of 21 men to Piszpek. Nikolai loved hunting since childhood and did not miss the pleasure of shooting pheasants. The traveler was thirsty and drew water from the local river, even though he knew that typhoid fever was raging there. His health began to deteriorate rapidly, but the scientist thought he had a trivial cold. However, his colleagues took no chances and invited a doctor from Karakol, who gave him a disappointing diagnosis. Przhevalsky expressed his last wish that his ashes be buried on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

The Russian Geographical Society endowed a silver medal and an award in his name, and in 1946 the Przhevalski gold medal was established. A city, a mountain range in the Kunlun Mountains, a glacier in the Altai and other geographical objects as well as several animal and plant species were named after him. There are monuments to Przhevalsky near Lake Issyk-Kul (at his grave) and in St. Petersburg.