What does 1 ruble consist of? What materials were coins made of before and now? Stamp molding and engraving

Collecting is a very interesting and educational hobby, giving the owner knowledge both in the field of history and numismatics. Of course, knowledgeable connoisseurs of rare specimens will immediately answer the question: “What metal are coins made from?” However, for a beginner who has recently begun to get involved in numismatics, it will not be easy to determine the composition and types of coins. That is why the article presents: popular metal alloys, as well as fascinating historical facts about Russia and the USSR.

From the history

The very first coins were made by ancient craftsmen from a natural alloy of gold and silver in 685 BC. e., during the reign of the Asia Minor king Ardis. This data reached contemporaries thanks to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who mentioned the memorable event in his full-scale treatise. Coins at that time were minted from silver, gold and copper, although there were also examples made from iron, tin and lead. Since then, the design and composition have changed significantly, acquiring new types and sizes.

Interesting
In Russia, before Peter the Great came to power, coins were minted mainly from silver, and only after the next tsarist reform they began to include gold in alloys of precious metals.

The nominal value of the specimen began to fully correspond to the price of the metal, which greatly reduced the risk of inflation and the possibility of counterfeiting money. Naturally counterfeit coins they still met, but it became much easier to determine their authenticity. Upon closer examination, it became clear that the fake differed from the original in being slightly lighter in weight.

By the way, platinum began to be used for minting coins in Russia approximately at the beginning of the 19th century, but due to its uneconomical nature, platinum copies were discontinued in 1845. There is an opinion that platinum prices were artificially inflated by European partners.

At the very beginning of the formation of the USSR, the government decided to modify the composition of the coins, replacing copper with unique aluminum bronze. However, in the early 30s, the era of alloys containing non-precious metals began, which is still welcomed today. Of course, the exception is collector's editions made of precious alloys.

Types of metals and alloys

Based on trusted sources, even a person inexperienced in numismatic terms can easily determine the composition of a coin after reading the article.

There are such alloys as:

• bronze;
• billon;
• electr;
• brass;
• potin.

Features of silver coins

In Russian catalogs they use the chemical designation familiar to the modern average person - Ag.

Silver is inherently a soft metal that is resistant to temperature processes, has high ductility, malleability and can be easily stamped during minting, however, compared to gold, its casting qualities are an order of magnitude lower. At the same time, the cost of silver coins increases from year to year.

Interesting
During the minting process, copper alloys are added, which significantly change the mechanical characteristics of silver, making the product more resistant to adverse factors.

In Tsarist Russia and the USSR, craftsmen used silver from 125° to 900° fineness to produce coins. Modern craftsmen use only 925° grade material, since it is in this form that the specimen retains its original appearance for a long time.

Unique Features of Platinum

In the late seventies, the production of collectible coins began in the USSR, ending in 1991 due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. In total, eleven copies were created, of which five units had a face value of 150 rubles. were made in honor of the upcoming Olympic Games.

After the disappearance of the USSR, sixteen collectible coins with a nominal value of 20.50 and 150 rubles were minted in Russia, which today represent enormous value at any auction, because after 1996, platinum coins were no longer minted.

Platinum (Pt) is quite hard, due to which it is not a sufficiently plastic material, gray-steel in color, which begins to melt when the temperature reaches 1759 ° C.

An interesting feature is the fact that the metal can completely dissolve only in aqua regia.

(Au) is a soft, ductile, malleable and elegant golden-colored material with excellent casting properties.

To make gold coins, gold is combined with an admixture of various alloys, mainly copper, which increases the durability and hardness of the product.

One of the most famous gold coins is the gold chervonets “Sower”, issued in the USSR in the early twenties. The copy has a replica made at the “sunset” of the communist system.

Copper coins

Copper is several times harder than gold and silver, which is why it performs well for coinage. In Russia and the USSR, copper coins were minted from 1700 to 1926, and after that they were replaced by aluminum bronze.

Combined coins (bimetallic)

Combination coins are made from two materials, typically using brass and cupronickel alloys. By the way, the first bimetallic coin, the denomination of which was ten rubles, was issued in the USSR and put into circulation in 1991. The copy did not have the Soviet coat of arms, so it was minted in Russia until 1992.

To summarize, we can safely assure that it will be quite difficult to determine the composition of an alloy and metal without special knowledge in chemistry and numismatics, however, thanks to the World Wide Web, you can always find information that interests the reader and reveal the fascinating features of a particular alloy, as well as easily determine its components.

Such a simple question arouses the interest of many people.
Starting from the 18th century in the Russian Empire, coins were minted from 3 main metals: gold, silver and copper. In 1828, platinum joined the above metals. But coins made of precious metal lasted only a short time: only 17 years. Already in 1845, platinum coins were withdrawn from circulation and completely stopped further distribution. Coins continued to be minted in 3 metals until 1926. It was this year that the Soviet Union decided to replace the previously used copper with aluminum bronze. As for silver coins, they existed until 1931, and then silver was changed to cupronickel. It was then that alloys that consisted of base metals began to be actively used. Such alloys are still relevant today. It is worth paying attention to the fact that exceptions are made for collectors and sometimes commemorative coins are issued entirely from precious metals. Now we will take a look at the alloys that were used in Soviet and Russian coins.

1. Gold

The very first coins to appear were made of gold. More precisely, the share of gold in that alloy was 75%. Gold is known for its softness and ductility, as well as its beautiful yellow color. . Due to the high value of gold, it was used only for particularly large and valuable coins. Gold is not very durable, so it was often used in an alloy with copper to increase the strength of coins.

2. Silver

The very first historical coins included, in addition to gold, silver (25%).
Silver is distinguished by its ductility and softness. It has an amazing silver color. Silver is also known for its poor castability and its remarkable chemical resistance. The structure of silver is harder than gold. But its hardness is still not enough, so when minting coins it uses an alloy of silver and copper.

3. Platinum

The first coins appeared in Russia in 1828, and already in 1845 they stopped being minted. The main version of such a sudden cessation of minting is that then platinum from Europe sharply soared in price, which affected the minting of coins. It became too expensive to produce them.
Platinum itself is a hard and low-ductility metal. Its color is steel gray. Platinum is known for its chemical resistance. In Russia, coins were minted from unrefined platinum, since in those years they simply did not know how to separate the metals that make up the platinum group.
In total, eleven platinum coins were issued in the USSR, and sixteen such coins were issued in Russia in the 90s. Since 1996, platinum coins have ceased to be issued.

I would like to note that coins made of these 3 metals, being in a harsh environment (earth) for a very long time, are not subject to oxidation and corrosion, and even if there are surface changes on the coin, you can easily clean it.

4. Copper

Copper is a red metal that is not as chemically stable as platinum, gold or silver. At the same time, copper is 3 times harder than gold and 2 times harder than silver. Unrefined copper was used for minting coins, but after the advent of galvanic purification methods, unrefined copper was no longer supplied to mints.
In Russia and the USSR, coins for internal circulation made of copper were issued from 1700 to 1926. Since 1926, copper has been replaced by aluminum bronze.

5. Aluminum bronze

Everyone knows this metal as a yellowish alloy, which consists of 95% copper, and the remaining 5% is aluminum. This type of bronze is known for its resistance to wear, which means the coin has very strong physical properties.
In the USSR, aluminum bronze was used during the issue of coins in denominations of 1,2,3 and 5 kopecks during the years 1927-1957.

6. Brass

Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper and is yellow in color. Brass is harder than pure copper. In the Soviet Union, from 1958 to 1991, brass was used during the minting of coins whose denominations were 1,2,3 and 5 kopecks. In 1991, 10-kopeck brass coins were minted. In Russia, brass coins were minted from 1992 to 1993 in coins whose denomination was 50 and 100 rubles, respectively. Since 1997, brass coins have been minted in denominations of 10 and 50 kopecks. Brass has also been used since 1997 in ten-ruble bimetal coins.

7. Cupronickel

It is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel. It has a beautiful color, the same as silver. Very resistant to mechanical and chemical influences. In the Soviet Union, it was minted for circulation coins in denominations of 10, 15 and 20 kopecks in 1931-1957. Since 1997, it has been used in 1 and 5 kopecks, as well as in 5 rubles (until mid-2009) for cladding (coating) coins.

8. Copper-nickel alloy

It also has a silver color, but is less resistant to physical and mechanical influences than cupronickel. It was the basis for coins of the USSR, in 1958-1991 for 10, 15, 20, 50 kopecks, as well as for 1 ruble. Production from this alloy began for commemorative and anniversary coins of the USSR in 1965-1991, although in 1975 the nickel content in coins began to be increased to improve mechanical properties and appearance coins After the collapse of the USSR, the coin was minted from a copper-nickel alloy in denominations of 10, 20, 50 and 100 rubles until 1993. And since 1997, 1 and 2 rubles from this alloy appeared.

9. Steel, clad

This kind of steel began to be used during the State Emergency Committee (1991) for coins with a face value of 10 kopecks. Usually coins are clad with cupronickel, brass or copper to make it look beautiful and give a golden or silver color. Now in Russia they issue coins for all denominations in this way.

10. Bimetallic coins

These are coins that are made from two metals and have just two components. They began to be minted in the same way in 1991 and are still being minted, the well-known 10 rubles. in which the ring is made of brass, and the disk (core) is made of cupronickel.

As can be seen from the above, starting from the 20th century, when progress stepped far forward, alloys for issuing coins began to change. This is primarily done for economic and mechanical reasons. The state is looking for ways to ensure that the issue of coins not only breaks even, but also that the coins do not wear out and can remain in circulation for a long time. For example, like coins from 1997-1998, which can still be found in circulation and which have not lost their original appearance over so many years.

It is also important to know what a coin is made of for those who are cops, like me. After all, for every coin found in the ground, there are only certain cleaning methods; for example, methods for cleaning silver from copper, etc., are not suitable.
Hope you found this article useful.

Most Commonly Used Metals

Aluminum (Al)
Atomic number 13, density 2.70 kg/l, melting point 660 o C. First obtained in 1824. Corrosion-resistant white metal used for small denomination coins.

Iron (Fe)
Atomic number 26, density 7.87 kg/l, melting point 1537 o C. Iron coins were issued by many European countries during periods of war in this century. To circumvent the corrosion problem in modern coins, various coatings were used - from copper to nickel and chromium. Moreover, many “iron” coins now have a steel “filling” (a small addition of carbon turns iron into steel).

Gold (Au)
Atomic number 79, density 19.32 kg/l, melting point 1063 o C. Perhaps the most ideal metal for coins, since it is a soft and chemically inert metal. Due to its softness, it is now almost always used in an alloy with copper.

Magnesium (Mg)
Atomic number 12, density 1.74 kg/l, melting point 650 o C. First obtained in 1755. Silver-white soft metal, 40% lighter than aluminum. It is not used in its pure form for minting coins; it is added to alloys.

Manganese (Mn)
Atomic number 25, density 7.43 kg/l, melting point 1245 o C. First obtained in 1774. Gray metal, similar to polished steel. Not used as a pure metal in coins or medals because it reacts with water, but is often used in alloys. During World War II, US nickels were made from an alloy of 56% Cu, 35% Ag and 9% Mn.

Copper (Cu)
Atomic number 29, density 8.96 kg/l, melting point 1083 o C. A soft metal of a reddish color, known since ancient times. Rarely used pure in modern coins, mainly as a coating for other metals.

Nickel (Ni)
Atomic number 28, density 8.90 kg/l, melting point 1453 o C. First obtained in 1751. Typically alloyed with copper, although pure metal was often used, especially for Swiss and Canadian coins. Pure metal is magnetic, and noticeably yellower than some of the silvery metals such as chromium and aluminum.

Tin (Sn)
Atomic number 50, density 7.30 kg/l, melting point 232 o C. Silver-like in color and very soft. Most often used in alloy with copper. The metal has three allotropic forms: gray, white and rhombic tin.

Platinum (Pt)
Atomic number 48, density 21.45 kg/l, melting point 1769 o C. First obtained in 1735. Most widely used in Tsarist Russia.

Silver (Ag)
Atomic number 47, density 10.49 kg/l, melting point 961 o C. An attractive white metal used for coins since ancient times.

Chromium (Cr)
Atomic number 24, density 7.19 kg/l, melting point 1875 o C. First obtained in 1798. A hard white metal unsuitable for coinage, but used for plating steel coins to increase durability.

Zinc (Zn)
Atomic number 30, density 7.13 kg/l, melting point 420 o C. First obtained in 1746. Lightweight, cheap metal. Rarely used in its pure form (European coins of World Wars I and II). Most commonly used in an alloy with copper.

Aluminum Bronze (Al-Br)
Copper-aluminum alloys are yellow in color, sometimes containing small amounts of manganese or nickel. Hard to wear.

Aurichalcum
Copper 80% and zinc 20%.

Barton's Metal
Essentially copper coated with a thick layer of gold. Used in 1825 during the reign of George IV.

Bath Metal
A type of cheap bronze used in Ireland, America and the Isle of Man.

White Metal
Antimonium alloyed with tin, copper or lead, silvery-white, used in medal making.

Billon
An alloy of copper and silver (more than half is copper). Used during the Roman Empire, France and Switzerland.

Bronze
An alloy of copper and tin (usually 80% to 95% copper). Most modern "copper" coins are actually bronze, since pure copper is too soft and wears out quickly. The high tin content gives bronze its silver color.

Virenium
A German silver type of alloy containing nickel, copper and zinc.

Bell metal
A type of bronze commonly used in bell making, but also used in France during the Revolution.

Crown gold
2 carat ligature and 22 carat gold. Crown gold is the standard used in the British sovereign. The ligature is usually copper, although silver has also been used.

Brass
An alloy of copper and zinc, although the term is used loosely to include all copper alloys. Generally the alloys used vary in zinc composition from 3% to 30%, and vary in color from copper-red to bright yellow. Brass with a small amount of nickel is known as nickel brass. Such alloys are used in modern Britain for the minting of 1 pound coins. The Roman name for brass is aurihalcum.

Copper-nickel
A self-explanatory alloy of copper and nickel, it is one of the most common alloys used in modern coins. Contains 16-25% nickel.

Nickel brass
A copper alloy containing zinc and a small amount of nickel. Used in Great Britain for the minting of threepence and pound coins. The composition used for the threepenny bit was 79% Cu, 20% Zn and 1% Ni.

Nickel silver
A copper alloy containing 18-22% nickel, 15-20% zinc and sometimes manganese and other metals. The alloy is sometimes known as German Silver or Argentan.

Stainless steel
An alloy of iron, chromium and nickel. The 50 and 100 lire coins of Italy use this material.

Pinchbeck
Mainly copper, with some zinc added, was used in the 18th century as a cheap imitation of gold.

Gunmetal
An alloy of 88% copper, 10% tin and 2% zinc, used for casting tools. Not usually used for coins, although the famous Cannon Money was minted in 1689 by James II for use in Ireland. Old guns, bells, etc. were used.

Potinus
An ancient alloy of copper, zinc and tin. Unlike billon, it does not usually contain silver, although some alloys containing silver are also called potine. Used in Egypt and southern India.

Pewter
Originally an alloy of tin with about 15% lead, and sometimes antimonium and copper. Coins from it were minted in Bohemia (1757, 1 kreuzer) and France (1831, 5 francs).

Speculum
A silver alloy of tin and bronze used in Gaul and England at the time of Caesar's invasion.

Steel
General name for iron-carbon alloys. It is highly susceptible to corrosion and therefore requires a coating of other metals when used for coins. Nickel and copper plated steel coins were minted in Bolivia from 1965 to 1987 (a time of hyperinflation). Zinc coated steel 2-franc coins in Belgium in 1944 and 1-cent coins in the United States in 1943.

Red brass
Copper alloy. Used in Canada for 5 cent coins in 1942 and 1943 (88% copper and 12% zinc).

Electr
It is a natural alloy of approximately 75% gold with 25% silver and copper and other metals. Used for the earliest coins minted in Lydia and also in the Frankish state.

Nonmetals

Paper
Used in Russia stamps as coins. Cardboard was used in the Netherlands in 1574, in Mexico in 1915, and also in Germany during the hyperinflation after the First World War.

Clay
Fired clay coins were issued in Japan at the end of World War II.

Leather
Embossed pieces of leather were used as means of payment in 16th century Europe during wars.

Plastic
These are basically coin-like tokens.

Selenium (Se)
Atomic number 34, density 4.45 (red) or 4.79 (gray) kg/l, melting point 180 C (red) or 217 C (gray). First received in 1818. A medal was issued to commemorate the anniversary of the discovery of this element.

Glass
Possibly used in ancient Egypt and Arabia.

Fiberglass
Used in China.

Carbon (C)
Atomic number 6, density 2.25 kg/l (graphite), melting point 3727 C. A small issue of coins from it was in Germany during times of hyperinflation.

Porcelain
Believed to have been used under the Ptolemies in Egypt. Porcelain coins were used in Thailand in the early 18th century. In Germany, as money surrogates during hyperinflation.

In preparing the page, materials from articles by T. Clayton were used.

Coins as a means of payment appeared long before paper money. It turns out that they were made not only from gold and silver.

During the reign of King George IV in England in 1825, an alloy called Barton metal was used as the coin metal. It was copper coated with a thick layer of gold.

From gold to cardboard

To produce British sovereigns, so-called crown gold was used - 22 carats of gold and 2 carats of alloy - usually copper or silver. In modern Great Britain, coins of 1 pound and 3 pence are minted from nickel brass - an alloy of copper, zinc (from 3 to 30%) and a small amount of nickel. Italian coins of 50 and 100 lire, until the introduction of the euro, were made of stainless steel (an alloy of iron with chromium and nickel). In 18th-century Bohemia and 19th-century France, metal money was minted from an alloy of tin and lead or an alloy of copper and antimony.

The earliest coins, minted in Lydia and the Frankish state, were made from ore containing 75% gold and 25% silver.

But there was a time when, instead of metals, their surrogates were used to make coins, and not always durable ones. For example, in 1574 in the Netherlands, in 1915 in Mexico during hyperinflation, after the First World War in Germany, cardboard was used for these purposes. In Russia, postage stamps were used as coins. In Japan, at the end of World War II, baked clay coins were issued. Embossed pieces of leather were used as means of payment in the 16th century during wars in Europe. Porcelain coins are believed to have been introduced into circulation during the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt and Thailand in the early 18th century.

Multi-colored coins

IN modern Russia For each denomination of coins, a different metal alloy is used, corresponding to their nominal value - hence the different colors of the coins. Each coin has its own specific weight.

White coins, in denominations of 1 and 5 kopecks, are made of bimetal - a special alloy of steel clad with cupronickel. The plating gives the coin a white color. To be more precise, steel is the “core” of the coin. Cupronickel allows you to make the coin more wear-resistant and durable.

Coins in denominations of 10 and 50 kopecks - yellow - are made of brass. They contain no impurities of other metals.

Ruble coins in denominations of 1 and 2 rubles are made from an alloy of copper and nickel. Moreover, there is more nickel in this alloy than copper, since copper is easily deformed, therefore, coins with a higher content would be less durable.

Five-ruble coins are made of bimetal. The base of the coin is made of copper, and the surface is clad with cupronickel.

Until last year, 10-ruble coins were also made from bimetal, but using a slightly different technology. The base - the disk of the coin - was cast from cupronickel, and the ring was made from brass, so the coins have a double color. Since 2010, new ten-ruble coins have been put into circulation, which are made of steel coated with copper by galvanic processing (copper is “grown” onto the steel under the influence of electric current).

More than a thousand years have passed since the appearance of the first Russian coins. Over the centuries, the appearance and size of coins changed significantly, but until the 20s of the twentieth century, the metal from which they were made remained almost unchanged. Coins were usually made from silver. Previously, money was called “silver”, that is, “silver”. Gold coins came into circulation only in the era of Peter I, and before that they were almost never used. The purchasing power of the coin was fully consistent with the price of the metal from which it was made, which excluded inflation and counterfeiting. However, counterfeit coins were still encountered: they had a lower weight or purity, although visually they were almost indistinguishable from the genuine ones.

Since the 15th century, attempts have been made repeatedly to introduce copper coins, since silver, due to population growth, was no longer enough. In 1662 the famous " Copper Riot" - uprising lower layers society against the introduction of copper coins, which were equal in weight and face value to silver coins.

Silver

Silver has been used to produce coins in Rus' since the times of “srebreniks” (the first Russian coins of the 10th-11th centuries). From the 15th century it began to be partially replaced by copper, and from the beginning of the 18th century by gold. During times Russian Empire Coins in denominations ranging from 1 kopeck (early 18th century) to ruble were made from silver. From the middle of the 19th century until 1916, silver coins were in denominations of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 50 kopecks, as well as 1 ruble (sterling silver was used). In 1921, the government of the RSFSR introduced silver coins in denominations of 10, 15, 20, 50 kopecks and 1 ruble (the fineness and weight corresponded to the tsarist times of 1868-1917). In 1924, the last silver ruble was issued, and in 1927, the last fifty dollars. Silver 10, 15 and 20 kopecks were issued until 1931.

From 1977 to the present, collectible silver coins have been produced in PROOF and Uncirculated quality, the weight of which is equivalent to a troy ounce. In 1995, the Bank of Russia issued a commemorative coin of Proof quality weighing 1 kilogram, and in 2003 - the first coin weighing 3 kilograms.

Since 1995, the Bank of Russia has been issuing investment silver coins of Uncirculated quality, which are sold by various banks at prices close to the market value of silver.

Gold

In Rus', gold was first used for the production of coins back in the 10th century. Only a few “zlatniks” are known to exist, which together with “srebreniks” are considered the first Russian coins. Further, for several centuries, this metal was not used, and only in the 15th century gold coins began to be minted in a very limited edition. During the time of Peter I gold coin turned into a common means of payment along with silver and copper coins. Coins with denominations higher than 1 ruble were minted from gold.

Since the middle of the 19th century, gold coins in denominations of 5 and 10 rubles were issued (900 gold was used), and during the time of Nicholas II, an “Imperial” coin was added to them, the nominal value of which was 15 rubles. In 1923, the first (and only) Soviet gold coin of regular mintage was issued - 1 chervonets, the size and weight of which corresponded to 10 royal rubles. In the 1970s and 1980, several million new gold chervonets were produced, which can still be purchased from banks as bullion coins.

From 1977 to the present, collectible gold coins have been produced in PROOF and Uncirculated quality, the weight of which is equivalent to a troy ounce. In 1996, the Bank of Russia issued the first anniversary coin of Proof quality weighing 1 kilogram, in 2003 a coin weighing 3 kilograms, and in 2010 - 5 kilograms.

Since 1995, the Bank of Russia has been issuing investment gold coins of Uncirculated quality, which are sold by banks at prices close to the market value of silver.

Copper

Copper was first used in the production of Russian coins in the 15th century in Novgorod (scale-like coins - "pulo" - were made from it). In the second half of the 17th century, an attempt was made to introduce copper coins into circulation, which were equal in weight and face value to silver coins. In this regard, the famous “Copper Riot” of 1662 occurred, after which the minting of copper coins was stopped.

Copper coin 5 kopecks 1911

Starting from 1700-1704, all small denomination coins began to be minted from copper - from half a half (1/8 kopeck) to a kopeck, and from 1723 - nickels. Since the mid-19th century, coins in denominations of 1/2, 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks have been produced from copper. In 1924-1925, copper coins were issued in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks, which repeated the size of the coins of the Russian Empire of 1868-1917, but had Soviet symbols. From 1925 to 1928, a limited edition of a half-kopeck coin was produced. From 1997 to the first half of 2009, the Bank of Russia issued five-ruble copper coins, which were coated with cupronickel. Then they began to produce it from steel.

Kolyvan copper

Siberian coin 2 kopecks 1780

In 1763, the Cabinet of Her Imperial Majesty sent a request to the office of the Kolyvan-Voznesensk factories about the possibility of using copper, obtained as a by-product when smelting silver and gold from ore, for the minting of copper coins. The factory office reported that there was enough copper (more than 500 tons, which should be enough for 4 years of minting, and taking into account the copper mined during this period - for 5 years), but a certain amount of silver and gold remained in it (“... not a small amount number of silver and a notable particle of gold,” according to initial calculations, their shares were 0.79% for silver and 0.01% for gold per pood), and therefore mint a copper coin from it according to the usual foot (16 rubles per pood) “.. .not only unprofitable, but also regrettable.” The President of the Coinage Department, Actual State Councilor I. Schlatter, calculated the foot for the Kolyvan alloy, based on the existing coin feet for copper, silver and gold coins. The silver content corresponded to 7 rubles. 35.59 kopecks, gold - 1 rub. 1.02 kopecks, copper - 15 rubles. 87 kopecks The total was 24 rubles. 24 kopecks from a pood, but in case there were a little more precious metals, Schlatter rounded up the foot to 25 rubles.

From 1763 to 1781, coins of the following denominations were minted from Kolyvan copper in a 25-ruble foot: polushka (1/4 kopeck), denga (1/2 kopeck), kopeck, 2 kopecks, 5 kopecks and 10 kopecks. From regular coins they differed in size, weight, the inscription “Siberian coin” and the coat of arms of Siberia on the obverse.

Platinum

In the period from 1828 to 1845, platinum coins of unusual denominations - 3, 6 and 12 rubles - were issued in limited editions. Thus, an attempt was made to reduce gold consumption. These coins were often confused with silver coins, so platinum had to be abandoned. From 1977 to 1995, commemorative and commemorative coins were minted from platinum in PROOF and Uncirculated quality, the weight of which was equal to a troy ounce.

Palladium

From 1977 to 1995, commemorative and commemorative coins were minted from palladium in PROOF and Uncirculated quality, the weight of which was equal to a troy ounce.

Bronze

The first bronze coins appeared in the USSR in 1926, replacing more expensive ones copper coins. Until 1958, several types of bronze coins were minted in denominations from 1 to 5 kopecks. Then they were replaced by coins made of copper-zinc alloy, which were more durable. In 1991, bronze was used to produce bimetallic ten-ruble coins, and in 1992 - fifty- and hundred-ruble coins.

Copper-nickel alloy

In 1958, 50 kopecks, 1, 2, 3 and 5 rubles were produced from a copper-nickel alloy. These coins were issued in a very limited edition and did not go into circulation. From 1961 to 1991, coins in denominations of 10, 15, 20, 50 kopecks and 1 ruble were issued from this alloy.

During the years of perestroika from 1991 to 1993, the copper-nickel alloy was used in the production of coins with denominations from 50 kopecks to 100 rubles (including bimetallic ones). From 1997 to the first half of 2009, this alloy was used to mint coins in denominations of 1 and 2 rubles. From 1965 to 2000, commemorative and commemorative coins were minted from copper-nickel alloy PROOF quality, Uncirculated and regular.

Copper Nickel Alloy Options:
cupronickel (copper + 5-30% nickel + no more than 0.8% iron + no more than 1% manganese);
nickel silver (an alloy of copper with 5-35% nickel and 13-45% zinc);
monel metal (nickel-based alloy, contains up to 30% copper).

Brass

Brass was first used in coin production in 1992, when it was used to coat steel ruble and five-ruble coins for corrosion protection. In 1995, it was used to cover steel 50-ruble coins of the 1993 model, which were previously bronze. In 1996, a series of brass coins was produced to commemorate the 300th anniversary Russian fleet. In 1997-2006, ten- and 50-kopeck coins were minted from brass. Currently, the Bank of Russia issues steel coins with a denomination of 10 rubles with brass electroplating. A ring for a modern bimetallic ten-ruble coin is also made from brass.

Copper-zinc alloy (a type of brass)

It was used in 1961-1991 for the production of coins in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks. In addition, in 1991-1994, a circle for bimetallic commemorative coins of the “Red Book” series was minted from a copper-zinc alloy, and in 1993, 50-ruble coins were made from it.

Cupronickel

Cupronickel (a type of copper-nickel alloy) was used in 1992-1993 to coat steel coins of 10 and 20 rubles. From 1997 to 2009, this alloy was used to coat the copper five-ruble coin and steel coins of 1 and 5 kopecks. In addition, the inner circle for the modern bimetallic ten-ruble coin is made from cupronickel.

Steel

The first coins made of steel appeared in the early 90s, when due to hyperinflation it was necessary to abandon expensive alloys. From 1997 to 2009, steel coins in denominations of 1 and 5 kopecks were issued; since 2006, in order to reduce the cost of producing steel coins, ten- and 50-kopeck coins began to be produced. Since 2009 everything Russian coins are made of steel with various coatings.

Nickel

In 1931, replaced silver coins in denominations of 10, 15 and 20 kopecks came nickel coins of the same denomination. This marked the beginning of the depreciation of coins, since now their real value was significantly lower than their nominal value. Since 2009, nickel has been used to cover regularly minted 1, 2 and 5 ruble steel coins.

Tompak alloy

Since 2006, tombak alloy has been used to coat ten- and 50-kopeck steel coins.