Platinum Öffentlichkeit Deposited
was used for a series of coins consisting of pieces of three, six, and twelve Rubles, issued in Russia on May 6, 1828.
The coins are all of the same type and they were struck uninterruptedly to the year 1845. At first, their novelty ap- pealed to the people and the three Rouble piece was accepted universally by both the hankers and the general public, the latter promptly nicknaming them serinkie, i.e., "the little gray coins." It was the favor with which they were at first received that encouraged the government to continue their issue.
In June, 1843, the Russian government decided to abandon this form of coinage. The general populace were tired of them, and for a number of years previously they were sent to Bokhara, China, etc., in pay- ment of accounts. These countries prompt- ly returned them and the Imperial treas- ury discovered that they began to accumu- late. Two years later the edict above mentioned was published and the govern- ment redeemed all the platinum coins, pay- ing for them in gold or silver as demanded by the holders.
At times when this metal was of less value than at present, it was used in a plated condition for fabrications of gold coins.
- Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)