Soviet coins include coins minted by the State Bank of the USSR in the period from 1923 to 1991, as well as metal money of the RSFSR, issued from 1921 to 1923. In the period from 1918 to 1921, state mints did not mass mint carried out. In the course were the old royal, as well as coins produced by the regional authorities. The coins of the “Armavir Branch of the State Bank” are widely known. The authorities of a prosperous trading southern city, surrounded on all sides by fertile lands and having a favorable geographical position, issued not only metal, but also paper money. Many other rarities also belong to the same period, since trial versions of coins were minted in small editions at the mints of the young Soviet state.
Over the 70 years of the State Bank’s work, a huge amount of metallic money has been produced, which is now hunted by both Russian and foreign collectors. Soviet coins today may well be considered as an object of long-term investment, taking into account their rarity, condition, initial cost, price growth dynamics.
Top 10 most expensive coins and their value
1. 50 kopecks 1929 – 10 million rubles.
Made from cupronickel. A trial sample was minted at the Leningrad Mint. Only one copy of this coin is known to exist. It was sold for 10 million rubles. at auction back in 2011, but over time, its value has probably only increased. Therefore, how much the most expensive coin of the USSR costs today can only be determined approximately. The issue of these coins came at the end of the New Economic Policy (NEP) period. After another crisis, the state decided to abolish the elements of market relations, and the population sought to keep silver and gold coins in their hands.
2. 10 kopecks 1929 – about 6.9 million rubles.
Trial coin made of nickel alloy. The circular arrangement of stars on it resembles the design of modern metal euros. According to the documents, only four such copies were made. One of them was sold at auction in 2018 for $90,000.
3. Copper chervonets 1925 – 5 million rubles.
The denomination of this coin is exactly “chervonets”, and not 10 rubles. For such a high price of 5 million rubles. it was sold at auction in 2008. This coin is also a trial copy. It is based on the gold chervonets of 1923. On the pages of some specialized sites devoted to numismatics, it is stated that in fact copper chervonets were issued in a circulation of several pieces, which was reflected in the printed press of that time.
4. Commemorative coin 200 rubles. “Far North” 1981 – 3.5 million rubles.
The commemorative gold and platinum coin was issued in two versions: proof and uncirculated. Things did not go beyond the trial run, and it became a collector’s rarity. The most expensive is a gold coin weighing 17.2 g – it was estimated at 3.5 million rubles. back in 2000.
5. Coins for vending machines in 1958 – up to 3.5 million rubles.
All coins from the special series of 1958 are of high value, but the most expensive of them is the face value of which is 3 rubles. After a trip to the United States, the General Secretary of the CPSU, Nikita Khrushchev, was impressed for a long time by the large number of vending machines he saw across the ocean. And he offered to reproduce the American experience. For the purchase of goods in vending machines, a line of metal coins was prepared, which included copies in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 rubles. Of the regular ones, today these are the most expensive coins-rubles of the USSR. When casting them, not only a new design was used, but also a changed material. However, over time, the idea was abandoned, including because of the monetary reform carried out in 1961. Most of the coins for vending machines were withdrawn from circulation and sent for remelting.
6. Coins of 1947 – from 1.9 to 3.462 million rubles.
The price of coins in denominations of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 kopecks at the Gorny and Mosch auction in 2008 ranged from 22 to 40 thousand euros. In rubles, the value is given as of the beginning of February 2022. These coins can be considered the most expensive among the USSR kopecks, issued in mass circulation.
In 1947, a monetary reform was carried out in the USSR, which included a denomination. Retail prices have been reduced for a number of essential goods. The coins of 1947 were prepared just in time for the reform, but they never entered circulation. Their characteristic feature is 16 ribbons on the coat of arms of the USSR, symbolizing 16 fraternal republics. Although quite recently, in 1940, there were eleven more. Within a few years, the Moldavian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Karelo-Finnish SSRs became part of the Soviet Union.
7. Chervonets “Sower” 1923 – 2.8 million rubles.
Soviet gold coin minted to stop inflation and restore stability in the country after years of crisis caused by revolution and civil war. The circulation was significant, figures of the order of 2.751 million copies are called, but most of the coins ended up being melted down. Of these, five- and ten-rouble money of the royal sample were minted, which were necessary for settlements with Western countries. From the internal turnover, the Soviet gold chervonets with the image of the figure of the “Sower” was actually withdrawn. Later, from 1975 to 1982, the USSR State Bank issued gold chervonets, changing only the date. The cost of the coin depends heavily on the state: 2.8 thousand rubles. they gave for the products of 1923 in the “proof” condition. Various sources mention four copies of this preservation. If the condition is slightly worse, then the cost is reduced by 10-20 times.
8. 1 kopeck 1957 – 600 thousand rubles.
Such a high price was paid for this coin at one of the auctions. The thing is again in the number of ribbons covering the ears that are depicted on the coat of arms of the country – there are 16 of them. However, by this time there were 15 union republics in the USSR – on July 16, 1956, the Karelian-Finnish SSR was transformed into the Karelian ASSR as part of the RSFSR. It turned out that the coat of arms on the coin is depicted with an error. Most of this metal money was withdrawn from circulation, and the rest is of interest to collectors. Trial 3 kopecks 1991 are sold for the same price.
9. 5 kopecks 1990 – 450 thousand rubles.
This is the first Soviet bimetallic coin. Its central insert is cast in a white copper-nickel alloy, and the rim is made of golden yellow brass. It is noteworthy that, as a result of inflation, the production of this coin cost more than its cost. The coin was practically never seen in circulation and is now regarded by collectors as a trial coin. Most likely, at this denomination, they worked out the technology for the production of more expensive coins, for example, 100 rubles. 1992 In 1990, other metal money was cast, which over time acquired a collector’s value. This is a coin with the letter “M”, and 5 kopecks, which was minted on a white metal mug intended for fifty dollars. For those times, the release of probes was typical, as well as erroneous, as it may seem now, copies. But,
10. 10, 15 and 20 kopecks 1931 – up to 150 thousand rubles.
If you find a 1931 coin of the indicated denomination in good condition, it will be useful to keep it in your collection. In 1931, a lot of collectible rarities came out. Technological changes were also the reason. The State Bank of the USSR refused to mint silver money and was looking for new materials. Among them was cupronickel – an alloy of copper and nickel, sometimes with additions of iron and manganese. From it, they mastered the production of 10, 15 and 20 kopecks. Trial copies and erroneous versions were produced – everything that is popular with modern collectors. So, some coins were minted on copper blanks for three kopecks. Due to poor quality, often the batches were sent for remelting. This happened with a circulation of 20 kopecks. Both coins made of silver and cupronickel are valuable.
Thus, even non-precious metal coins can serve as a long-term investment if the collector has special knowledge and is interested in history. The price of Soviet and other coins is affected by their rarity and safety. Metal banknotes of the same circulation often differ in value by an order of magnitude, such as, for example, gold chervonets of 1923. In order not to be mistaken in cost, it is better to use the services of specialists, and also refer to the catalog of the most expensive coins of the USSR. In addition, information on the current price of most well-known coins, including those issued in single copies, is available on specialized numismatic sites.
