Haven't got around to thinking of the cover but thought I'll show what I have compiled so far. The only 'coin' that did circulate is the 1946 series. 1993 series could have possibly circulated - from my understanding the Norwegian Government did protest the existence of such coins and these coins were quietly removed. 1998 coins are most definitely tokens as there are no denominations on these coins. Please feel free to post your examples! http://gxseries.com/ct/spitsbergen_pg1_small.jpg
Very cool, a seldom seen set. 1946 fakes were rampant a while back, can probably still dig up some pics if you're interested in having a comparison reference
Numismat - please do post some examples. I have heard of them but never got around to doing some decent studying. I have a mini booklet about it but my Russian is too rusty to be of any use.
The 1998 Coins, Soviet Official Year Set, issued for Russian Coal mining Company "Arcticugol" operating on that ( islands in the Svalbard archipelago to the east of northern Greenland ) Norwegian island under a lease conditions. When Russia struck these / those coins with Russian Federation legend on its reverse, Norway posted an official protest, sighting that it had authority over the island. Russia recalled all the coins and claimed to have them destroyed. However, few survived.Obverse features a polar bear on top of the world or North Pole. 1. SPITSBERGEN, 1993, 10 roubles, KM Tn5, Arktikugol. 2. SPITSBERGEN, 1993, 25 roubles, KM Tn6, Arktikugol. 3. SPITSBERGEN, 1993, 50 roubles, KM Tn7, Arktikugol. 4. SPITSBERGEN, 1993, 100 roubles, KM Tn8, Arktikugol
