RUSSIAN COINS AND CURRENCY

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VIKING TRADE COIN  

The Vikings struck few of their own coins.  Many of the coins found in Scandanavian and Russian Viking settlements came from the Samanid Empire, which was located along the southern Caspian Sea.  Vikings sailed down the Volga River to the Caspian Sea where they traded furs, slaves, honey and other commodities for Samanid silver coins.   These Samanid silver dirhams date from about the 10th century, are approximately 27mm and have Arabic legends on both sides. The coins show minimal wear, but are not well struck so tend to have flat areas. 

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THE GIRAY KHANS OF CRIMEA

The Giray Khans ruled Crimea and adjacent regions from 1427 until 1783. The Giray's broke away from the Golden Horde and claimed the right to rule the region as decendents of Ghenghis Khan. Their economy was largely based on slave trading.  In a process known as harvesting the steppe, raiding parties would go out, capture and enslave Russian, Ukranian and Polish Christian peasants.  Most of the slaves would then be sold in the Ottoman Empire.  The Khan was paid 10% to 20% of the value of each slave sold.  In 1783 Russia annexed the khanate.  This was in violation of a treaty signed in 1774 in which Russia guaranteed non-interference in the affairs of the khanate.  These billon akces of the Giray Khans are crude and poorly struck.

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PETER THE GREAT SILVER WIRE KOPECK  

Silver wire money was made by a repeatedly striking a design into a length of silver wire, then cutting it into separate coins.  As might be expected, the coins are quite crude and usually off-center.  Peter the Great Peter the Great ruled Russia from 1689 to 1725. He was a great reformer, modernizing Russia and expanding its Navy, frontiers and prestige. He founded St. Petersburg and moved the capital there from Moscow.  In 1704 Russia was the first country to introduce a decimal monetary system, where 1 Ruble was equal to 100 Kopecks.  On January 1, 1718 he ceased production of the increasingly debased silver wire money, replacing it western style machine struck coins.  One side of the wire kopeck has a partial, indistinct image of St. George slaying the dragon.  The other has legends in old Russian script.

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RUSSIAN CZAR ALEXANDER I FOUGHT NAPOLEON

Alexander I, "The Blessed" became Czar of Russia at age 23 upon the assassination of his father in 1801.  Many believe he was in on the plot.  The first part of his reign was dominated by the Napoleonic Wars.  He changed his position toward France four times.  In 1812 Napoleon began is disastrous invasion of Russia.  The Russians employed a scorched earth strategic retreat and guerilla warfare.  Disease, starvation and the Russian winter took their toll on Napoleon's army. Of the over 600,000 troops that entered Russia, only about 100,000 returned alive. During the later part of his reign Alexander became increasingly conservative and reactionary.  He ended many of his earlier reforms.  Schools were purged of foreign teachers and education became more religiously driven and politically conservative. He died of typhus in 1825.  Despite being married at age 15, he left no legitimate heirs. Neither of his brothers wanted to become czar.  After a period of confusion and an attempted, his brother Nicholas agreed to became czar.  These copper 1 and 2 Kopeck coins are dated during Aleander's reign.  Both feature the Russian arms and date on one side and the denomination and mintmark withing a wreath on the other.  The 1 Kopecks date from 1811 to 1825.  The 2 Kopecks are from the Napoleonic period, dating from 1811 to 1816.

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MULTI-LINGUAL SOVIET UNION 25 RUBLE NOTE FEATURES LENIN

As part of its currency reform in 1961, the Soviet Union introduced this 25 Ruble note.  The front of the note features the bust of Vladimar Lenin and the arms of the Soviet Union.  The back has inscriptions in the languages of the republics of the Soviet Union: Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarussian, Estonian, Georgian, Kazakh, Kirghiz, Latvian, Lithuanian, Moldavian, Russian, Ukrainian, and Uzbek. The small sized (121x62mm) note continued in circulation until shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

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TWILIGHT OF THE U.S.S.R COIN SET  

The seven coins in this set were issued shortly before the collapse of communism and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.  The set includes the 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 Kopecks dating between 1987 and 1991 in Uncirculated condition.  All coins have similar designs. One side features a hammer and sickle enveloping the earth.  The other side has the date and denomination.  It is an interesting and inexpensive reminder of the "evil empire".

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SOVIET UNION LOTTERY BONDS

Opportunities for savings or investment were severely limited in the Soviet Union.  One could put their money into the state bank which paid 2% to 3% interest or one could buy government issued lottery bonds.  These 25 and 50 Ruble lottery bond was issued by the Soviet Union in 1982.   Monthly drawings were held over a 20-year period. Prizes ranging from 100 Rubles to 10,000 Rubles (or a new Volga automobile and 5000 Rubles. Over the 20-year period approximately 32% of the bonds would be drawn for a prize, the rest would get back their principal.  With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and subsequent inflation, the bonds became virtually worthless.  The green bond measures 160 x 116mm.  They are historic items from the final decade of the Soviet Union.

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LENIN ON TRANSITIONAL RUSSIAN BANKNOTE

Vladimir Lenin is featured on this 1992 transitional banknote of the Russian Federation.  The note was issued shortly after the collapse of Union on December 26, 1991 and before new banknote designs could be prepared.  The note is a slightly modified version of the 1991 Soviet 500 Ruble note.  The front of the features a portrait of Lenin, the arms of the Soviet Union and the legend reads that it is a "State banknote of the U.S.S.R.".  The back has a view of Kremlin.  The main difference is that on the back the note is dated 1992 and has a guilloche in the watermark area.  It is a colorful and unusual transitional note bearing the name of a country that no longer existed when it was issued.

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RUSSIA REVALUES THE RUBLE

Russia suffered from severe inflation after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. On January 1, 1998 Russia did a 1000 to 1 revaluation of the Ruble. 1 new Ruble was worth 1000 of the old Rubles.  In preparation for the revaluation new coins were struck starting in 1997.  This six-coin set includes the 1, 5, 10 and 50 Kopeck, 1 and 2 Rubles dated 1997 or 1998.  The Kopeck denominated coins all depict St. George slaying the Dragon.  St. George is the patron Saint of Russia.  The 1 and 2 Ruble coins depict the two-headed Russia eagle.

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BI-METALLIC RUSSIAN COINS HONOR HISTORICAL TOWNS

In 2002 Russia began an annual program that each year commemorates some of their historical towns on bi-metallic 10 Ruble coins. The coins picture the city and its arms on one side and has the standard Russian 10 Ruble obverse on the other. Anywere betwen zero and four coins are issued each year. Though Russia has discontinued issuing bimetalic 10 Rubles for general circulation, the bi-metalic 10 Ruble has continued to be used for the Historic Towns series.
The 2002 series was the first in the series. It honored the towns Kostroma, Starya Russa and Derbent. The 2003 series consists of 4 coins, commemorating the historic cities of Kasimov, Dorogobuzh, Murmom and Pskov. The 2004 series consists of 3 coins and honored the towns of Dmitgrov, Kemy and Riyazhsk. The 2005 series honors the towns of Mcensk, Kazan, Borovsk and Kaliningrad. The 2006 Series honored the towns of Torzhok, Kargopol and Belograd. The 2007 series pictured the towns of Gdov, Veliky Ustyug and Vologada. The 2008 Historic towns are Azov, Prioziorsk, Smolensk and Vladimir. The 2009 series includes the towns of Galich, Kaluga, Veliky Novogorod and Vyborg. The 2010 series includes two coins, depicting the historic towns of of Bryansk and Yuryevets. The 2011 set includes only two coins, featuring the towns of Yelets and Solikamsk. Only one coin was issued in the series for 2012: Belozersk.  No coins were issued in 2013.  One coin was issued in 2014 for the historic town of Nerekhta. No coins were issued for 2015.  Three towns were commemorated in 2016: Rzhev, Velikie Luki and Zubsov.  One coin was issued in 2017 for the historic town of Olonets.  One coin was issued for 2018 for the town of Gorokhovets.  The 2019 issues were for the historic towns of Klin and Vyzama.

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BI-METALLIC RUSSIAN COINS CELEBRATE REGIONS

In 2005 Russia started a new series of bi-metallic 10 Ruble coins honoring the regions of Russia. In many ways it is similar to the very successful State Quarters program of the United States. Each year various regions will be honored. The coins feature the regions arms on one side and the denomination on the other. The coins are 27mm in diameter with a brass ring around a copper-nickel center.  The obverse features the denomination with a shifting image within the “0” that changes from "10" to "РУБ" (Ruble) as the coin is turned.  Anywhere between zeor and six coins are issued each year.  Though Russia has discontinued issuing bimetalic 10 Rubles for general circulation, the bi-metalic 10 Ruble has continued to be used for the Region series.
The first six coins, dated 2005, include Leningrad, Tver, Oryol, Krasnodar, Republic of Tartarstan and Moscow. In 2006 coins were issued for the Regions of Chita, Sakhalin, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Republic of Altari and the Maritime Region. The 2007 series feature Arkhangelsk Region. Republic of Bashkortostan, Republic of Khakasia, Lipetsk Region, Novosibirsk Region and Rostov region. The 2008 regions coins honors Astrakhan Region, Kabaradan-Balkar Republic, Svedolovsk Region and Udmurt Region. The 2009 regions coins features The Republic of Adygeya, The Jewish Autonomous Region, the Republic of Kalmykiya, the Kirovsk Region and the Republic of Komi.  The 2010 regions coins were issued in very limited quantities and we have not been able to acquire them at a reasonable price.  The 2011 regions coins honor Republic of Butyatiya and Voronezh Region.   No coins in the regions series were issued in 2012.  Two coins were issued in the series in 2013. One for the Republic of Dagestan and the other for the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.  Five coins were issued in 2014 commemorating Chelyabinsk Region, The Republic of Ingushetia, Penza Region, Saratov Region and Tyumen Region.  No coins were issued in this series in 2015.  In 2016 the Amur, Belgorod and Irkutsk Regions were commemorated.  In 2017 the Tambov and Ulyanovsk regions were commemorated.  In 2018 Kurgan was honored.  The 2019 issue featjured Kostroma Oblast.   

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RUSSIA WWII CITIES OF MILITARY GLORY COINS

In 2011 Russia began a new annual series of commemorative 10 Ruble coins honoring "Cities of Military Glory". The title of “City of Military Glory” has thus far been bestowed upon some 35 cities where soldiers and citizens displayed exceptional heroism in World War II. The 22mm brass plated steel coins feature the coat-of-arms of the city on one side and the standard 10 Ruble obverse. The first eight cities to be honored were Belgorod, Kursk, Oryol, Vladikavkaz, Malgobek, Rzhev, Yelets, and Yelnya in 2011.  In 2012 Dmitrov, Luga, Polyarny, Rostov-on-Don, Tuaspe, Velikiye Luki, Velikiye Novgorod and Voronezh where honored.  In 2013 the cities of Vyzama, Kronstadt, Naro-Fominsk, Pskov, Kozelsk, Arkhangelsk, Volokolmask and Bryansk where honored. 

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RUSSIA COMMEMORATES DEFEAT OF NAPOLEON

Russia issued this set of ten 5 Ruble coins in 2012 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Russia's victory over Napoleon in the "Patriotic War of 1812".  Each coin features a different monument commemorating significant battles and events of the war. The obverses feature the denomination and date.   The nickel-plated steel coins are 25mm and are Uncirculated.

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RUSSIA CELEBRATES 1150th ANNIVERSARY OF STATEHOOD 

Russia released this 2012 dated 22mm brass plated steel 10 Ruble coin to celebrate the 1150th anniversary of Russian statehood.  Few nations achieve such a long history of nationhood. One side of the coin depicts the Millennium of Russia monument built in 1862 in Novgorod.  The other side is the standard 10 Ruble obverse.  According to tradition, Russia was founded at Novgorod in 862AD by a Viking named Rurik who traveled down from Scandinavia through the Volga River system.

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RUSSIA CELEBRATES CRIMEAN TAKEOVER WITH BANKNOTE

In 2014 Russia took Crimea from Ukraine and incorporated it into Russia. To commemorate the annexation of Crimea, Russia issued a 100 Ruble note in 2015.  One side is devoted to Sevastopol.  It features the Monument to the Ships sunk in the Siege of Sevastopol in 1854.  In the background is a painting of sailing ships and outlines St. Vladimir’s Cathedral and other historic buildings.  The other side is devoted to Crimea.  It features the famous “Swallow’s Nest” castle.  In the background are Crimean landmarks including the Big Khan Mosque and RT-70 radio telescope.  At the bottom is a QR code for the Bank of Russia web page that describes the note.  The note has a watermark of Catherine the Great, who conquered Crimea in 1783. The colorful note measures 150 x 65mm.

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2016 RUSSIAN COIN SET   

In 2016 Russia introduced four new regular issue coins into circulation in 2016.  The 1, 2, 5 and 10 feature the crowned Russian arms used by the Czars, rather than the uncrowned eagle of the Bank of Russia that was used on the previous coin issues.  Perhaps Putin is preparing to make himself Czar.  The reverse design features the denomination and an ornamental sprig. The 10 Rubles is struck in brass-plated steel and includes a shifting image within the “0” of the numeral 10 that change from “10” to “РУБ” (RUB) as the angle of the coin is changed.  The other denominations are nickel-plated steel. 

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VERY RARE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL UNION ORDER PRESENTATION COINS

The Russian Imperial Union Order was founded in Paris in 1929 by a group of Russian exiles in order to promote the legitimate line of the Russian Czar and re-establish Russia as a monarchy.  In 1979 it struck a 1 Ruble to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the organization. The obverse depicts the emblem of the order: the Czarist eagle with a sword. The inscriptions translate as: "Russian Imperial Union-Order",  "For the Faith, the Czar and the Fatherland", "1929-1989", "60 years of struggle" and "We are Russian, God is with us". The reverse depicts the portrait of Czar Nicholas II with inscriptions: "1894-1917" (the dates of his reign), "Only National Assembly will choose the worthy successor" and the denomination "Ruble".  The coins are 38.25mm in diameters. Examples struck in copper, silver and gold were sold to supporters and the public as a fundraiser.  In addition 60 pieces were struck in copper-nickel with an antiqued finish and 28 Essais were struck in antiqued bronze for presentation purposes. The Essai features the czarist eagle obverse on one side and the word Essai in Russian on the other.   These rare presentation coins have not been available to the public until now. 

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HOLOGRAM COIN FROM REPUBLIC OF CRIMEA

A hologram of the Russian coat of arms is included on the obverse of this unofficial 2025 square 500 Rubles coin of the Republic of Crimea.  At the upper right is the Russian Imperial coat of arms.  The reverse features a Serpent Eagle standing in front of the Genoese Fortress in Sudak, Crimea.  The fortress was built in the 14th century.  Crimea has long been an important trade center.  Control of the peninsula has passed through many hands over the centuries.  Russian Czar Catherine the Great annexed Crimea in 1783.  In 1954, when Russia and Ukraine were both part of the U.S.S.R., Crimea was given to Ukraine.  This worked out fine until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.  In 2014 Russia invaded Crimea and transferred it back to Russia, though Ukraine still claims the territory.  This silver-plated brass Proof Crimean 500 Rubles has a mintage of only 110 pieces.

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ALSO SEE:

COINS OF THE FORMER REPUBLICS OF THE U.S.S.R.

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