http://www.ebay.com/itm/1858-RUSSIA...4512969?pt=US_World_Coins&hash=item1e8c65fcc9 Real? Fake? Worth the gamble? It sure is sexy!
check this one out: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Russia-1829...8161846?pt=US_World_Coins&hash=item2ed2626eb6
I'd pay $100 max for it. I believe it's about a $50 coin in AU condition. I say don't pull the trigger.
The Seller says: "The rims are fine, no dings or bends." You can SEE, at 2, 3, and 7 o'clock -- various rim damage and dents. I'd pass.
Easily a $250 coin, not sure where your price comes from, but Krause is way off on these. Nothing fake about it. These are often proof-like and this one is exactly that with attractive toning. Of course it's priced too high, but you can get an equally nice example of this or another date for a fair price if you do a little digging.
The only 1858 poltina in worldwide completed items is an XF to AU that sold for a bit over $200. Well, aside from a slabbed MS that did almost a grand. I believe you were looking at a 25 kopek instead of the 50 kopek
Poltinas or 50 kopeks are in general tougher to find compared to 1 ruble coins in almost all years with the exception of Nicholas II. More reading here: http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php/topic/25214-scarcity-of-tsarist-era-poltina/ Some photos from this thread: http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php/topic/25256-post-your-tsarist-era-poltina/
