How the Russian kopeck has changed over the five centuries of its existence. Coins of the Russian Empire Design of copper coins of Nicholas II

In most of my articles about Russian coins, I talk only about rubles, forgetting about another main coin - the penny. But there are so many interesting things that can be said about her. With this article I want to fill this gap, tell the story of the origin of the penny, interesting facts and details.

I think everyone knows that a kopeck is a Russian coin equal to a hundredth of a ruble. The name comes from the image on the reverse of the coin of a horseman with a spear. But there is an opinion that this word comes from the Tatar expression “dinar kopeki” (kopek coin). In truth, I did not go into details and therefore am of the opinion that the kopeck came from the word “spear” and St. George the Victorious depicted on it.

History of the origin of the penny

The penny first appeared in 1534 during the monetary reform of Ivan the Terrible’s mother, Elena Glinskaya. Main reason for introduction new coin clipping of silver coins became widespread, as a result of which silver coins lost weight, thereby causing mistrust among people. As a result, all old coins, regardless of their integrity, were banned and replaced with new ones.

The kopeck of that time depicted a horseman with a spear. It weighed 0.68 g and was oblong in shape. The silver penny became the base coin unit. For almost a hundred years it maintained this weight, and only at the beginning of the Polish-Swedish intervention in 1610 was it reduced. During the 17th century, the weight of the penny fell several more times, as a result of which by the beginning of the reign of Peter I it reached a weight of 0.4 g. Peter himself called these coins “old lice.”

From 1696 to 1717, the weight of a penny dropped to 0.28 g. To pay large sums, it was necessary to spend several days just counting. Then Peter decided to carry out a monetary reform, which turned out to be a response to increasing trade. The Emperor visited abroad many times, where he became acquainted with the work of mints and condemned the method of making kopecks in Russia.

The first step in the reform was the issuance of small copper coins, which were in denominations below the penny: denga - 1/2 kopeck, half - 1/4 kopeck and half-polushka - 1/8 kopeck. In 1704, a copper kopeck appeared in circulation, which existed on a par with the silver ruble and was equal to 1/100 of it. For the first time, the penny received the familiar round shape and the date stamped on it. But the production of old silver wire coins did not stop and continued for another 14 years. Copper coinage satisfied the urgent need for small change coins and released some of the silver from circulation for the minting of larger coins.

Also, during the reform, all accounts were only in rubles and kopecks. The previous account for money and altyns was prohibited. At this time, Russia became the first country in the world to introduce decimal coin system. I would like to note that on Peter's kopecks an original minting technique was used for literate and illiterate people: for literate people the denomination was indicated by a word, for illiterate people - the corresponding number of dots or lines.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the tsarist government of Nicholas II increased emissions paper money(due to war expenses), resulting in the creation of the paper penny. On tickets in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks it was written: “It circulates on a par with a copper coin.” Also, postage stamps from a series dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov were put into circulation, with a similar overprint on the reverse side.

Soviet kopecks

First Soviet kopeck came into circulation in 1924. It was minted according to the same patterns from the Tsarist period of 1868-1917. Also this year, copper coins in denominations of 2, 3 and 5 kopecks were issued, and in 1925 the production of coins in denominations of half a kopeck began. The issue of these coins cost the state a large sum and consumed a lot of copper. As a result, the release copper coins was discontinued, and from 1926 the country switched to minting coins from a golden bronze alloy (a copper-zinc alloy with the addition of aluminum to the alloy alloy to improve the malleability of the material).

From that moment on, a penny began to weigh exactly one gram, two kopecks - two grams, etc. In a ruble there were 100 grams in small coins. But producing a kopeck still remained an expensive business: making a ruble cost 16 kopecks, and one kopeck cost 8 kopecks. Therefore, in Soviet times, they tried not to confiscate small change coins.

What could you buy for one kopeck in Soviet times? A piece of bread, a glass of soda without syrup, a simple pencil, two simple envelopes, two guitar picks or a box of matches.

Kopek modern Russia

Probably everyone knows that the penny of modern Russia depicts St. George the Victorious. It is made of an alloy of steel and cupronickel, has a diameter of 15.50 mm, a thickness of 1.25 mm and a weight of 1.5 g. The characteristics of other penny coins are given below:

Coins in denominations of 10 and 50 kopecks have already undergone some minor changes, which I talked about in one of my notes. Currently releasing penny coin costs 47 kopecks, and a five-kopeck one costs 69 kopecks. Because of this, there are disputes about whether to continue or stop issuing coins of this denomination.

My collection contains all the denominations of kopecks from Soviet Union, as well as one kopeck with the symbols of the RSFSR. I have long put away the kopecks of modern Russia in a box, several of them.

This is the story of the penny. It doesn’t end, in the next posts I will tell you a few more interesting facts and features.

From the time of Nicholas I. 1842 POLUSHKA, small Russian small change coin; minted since the 15th century. made of silver. 1 half was equal to 1/2 Moscow or 1/4 Novgorod money. Since 1534, the polushka has been the smallest coin of the Moscow state, equal to 1/4 kopeck, with... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Small change Russian coin; minted since the 15th century. made of silver. 1 half = 1/2 Moscow or 1/4 Novgorod money. Since 1534 the polushka has been the smallest coin of the Moscow state, equal to 1/4 kopeck, since 1700 the smallest denomination of the Russian coinage... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

POLUSHKA, polushki, female. In ancient times, a copper coin worth half a penny or a quarter of a penny. “It’s half a heifer overseas, and I’ll carry a ruble.” (last). ❖ Not a half ruble (simple obsolete) not a penny, about a complete lack of money. “The old woman ordered salt... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Women (half a mustel ear? or pula?) almost out of count, the smallest coin, half money, a quarter of a penny. There are twelve half rubles in an altyn, and ten forty in a ruble. | Polushka, tamb. two rumps, two headstocks of sheaves in the field, half a heap. | bonfire cologr. measure... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

Lepta Dictionary of Russian synonyms. polushka noun, number of synonyms: 5 goglikha (1) mite ... Dictionary of synonyms

See Money... Brockhaus Biblical Encyclopedia

POLUSHKA, and, female. In the old days: a small copper quarter penny coin. The heifer is overseas, and I’m transporting a ruble (last). Not a half ruble (not a penny). Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Polushka, otherwise half money, is the smallest unit in the ancient monetary account. It was half of Moscow or a quarter of Novgorod, which is why the Novgorodians called it the quarter. The trading book says: the kidney spool is 25, and the kidney pulls 1 half... and... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

AND; pl. genus. shek, dat. shkam; and. Antique copper quarter penny coin. Copper, shiny p. Replace p. * Half a heifer overseas, and a ruble transportation (Last.). // A quarter of a penny of money. Pay half a ruble. Get half a million dollars... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

Polushka- (half denga) small change Russian. coin. From the 15th century minted from silver, equal to 1/2 Mosk. or 1/4 Novgorod. money (hence its name - quarter). After the reform of 1534, the smallest coin was Moscow. state va, equal to 1/4 kop. (its weight is 0.17 g of silver).... ... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary

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On January 1, 1998, during the redenomination in Russia, the kopeck was reintroduced into monetary circulation.

Over the course of its 500-year history, the Russian kopeck has undergone various transformations: it was copper, silver, alloy (from an alloy of steel and cupronickel) and even... paper! Such a penny was issued during the time of Nicholas II, when the government was trying to cope with exorbitant military expenses. The purchasing power of a penny also varied: if in the 18th century you could live on it for a day, today you can’t even buy a box of matches.

How has the kopeck - the smallest monetary unit of Russia - changed throughout its history?

Kopek of Elena Glinskaya

The Russian penny dates back to 1534. Then each Russian principality printed its own coins, often from precious metals - alloys of silver and gold. But the Russian man would not be himself if he had not figured out how to benefit from the precious coins that fell into his hands. Therefore, in the 30s of the 16th century, trimming silver coins became widespread. As a result, they lost weight, thus undermining the foundations of the entire monetary economy and causing distrust among people. Nothing helped: neither execution, nor prison. There was only one way out: to ban all old coins (cut and uncut), replacing them with a new one. This is what the mother of the future Tsar Ivan the Terrible, Elena Glinskaya, who was then regent for her young son, did.

All Russian coins of that time had an irregular shape. This was explained by the fact that they were minted on flattened pieces of silver wire. The result was oblong, almost oval-shaped plates, on which were stamped: a design on the front side and an inscription on the back. The new money had the image of a horseman with a spear (St. George the Victorious) and this differed from the old one, which depicted a horseman with a saber. The new coins began to be called kopecks, or kopeck coins. But since they were still printed from precious metals, the problem of money damage was not finally solved.

They say that during the reign of Ivan IV the Terrible, you could buy an entire peasant hut for three kopecks.

Kopek of Boris Godunov

In the 17th century, during the time of Boris Godunov, the kopeck continued to be a serious monetary unit: with 1 kopeck you could buy either a chicken or a whole cart of cucumbers. A good carpenter earned 1 kopeck a day, and a cow, the breadwinner of a peasant family, then cost 80 kopecks.

But at the end of the 17th century, a monetary crisis began to develop in Russia. As a result of the deterioration of the coins and the reduction in their weight, the penny turned into a tiny piece of silver. To pay a large amount in this coin, it was necessary to spend several days just counting. Peter the Great, who came to the Russian throne, decided to introduce a new monetary system that would meet growing commerce. But, fearing discontent among the people, he carried it out gradually, over 15 years.

Kopek of Peter the Great

In Europe, the coinage system was more developed; coins were minted using a screw press on round blanks. Peter, as you know, traveled a lot abroad, where he became acquainted with the work of mints.

First of all, Peter ordered the release into circulation of copper coins in denominations below a kopeck: dengu - 1/2 kopeck, half coin - 1/4 kopeck and half half coin - 1/8 kopeck. The half-polushka (polpolushka) was minted only in 1700. It was only in 1704 that a copper kopeck, equal to 1/100 of a silver ruble, came into circulation, and it was possible to replace the silver kopeck with a copper one. The image of a horseman with a spear on a penny lasted until the end of the 18th century.

Peter the Great introduced an account for rubles and kopecks. The previous account for money and altyns was prohibited. Altyn - 3 kopecks (6 money), five-altynnik - 15 kopecks (30 money), ruble - 200 money - have become uncommon forms in government document flow.

By the way, Russia became the first country in the world to introduce a decimal monetary system. In America, the system of the dollar and its hundredth part - a cent - appeared in 1792, in France one hundredth of a franc - a centime - in 1795.

On some coins of the Peter the Great era, an original technique was used to indicate their value: for the literate, the denomination was indicated by a word, for the illiterate, by the corresponding number of dots or dashes. This method was used until 1810.

The minting date began to be placed on the coins of Peter I from 1696. At first, it was counted in accordance with the time system that existed in Rus' - from the “creation of the world” and was designated by letters of the Slavic alphabet that corresponded to certain numbers. With the introduction of a new chronology from the “Nativity of Christ” on January 1, 1700, dates on coins began to be indicated by numbers.

In Peter’s and post-Petrine times, the kopeck continued to maintain normal purchasing power: for example, the future great scientist Mikhailo Lomonosov received an allowance of one and a half kopecks a day from the treasury during his studies, and even later, in the 19th century, a liter of good vodka cost 12 kopecks.

Elizabeth I's penny

The history of the penny also knows some very unusual examples. For example, the copper penny issued under Elizabeth I in 1726 was the largest, square in shape, measuring 23x23 mm. And the heaviest “Elizabethan” penny weighed 20.48 g.

Kopek of Nicholas II

In 1915, trying to cope with military expenses, the government of Nicholas II sharply increased the production of paper money and even began issuing a paper penny. On banknotes of 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks it was printed: “has circulation on a par with a copper coin”; on the 50-kopeck bill - “has circulation on a par with a small silver coin.”

In 1916, coins in denominations of 1, 2 and 3 kopecks were issued for the eastern zone of German occupation, minted at the mints of Berlin and Hamburg.

Soviet kopeck

The first Soviet silver coins with the coat of arms of the RSFSR in denominations of 10, 15, 20 and 50 kopecks are dated 1921. The first Soviet kopeck came into circulation in 1924. These coins were minted on blanks of the same size as the copper coins of the Tsarist period 1868-1917. In addition, in 1924, copper coins in denominations of 2, 3 and 5 kopecks came into circulation (copper coins in denominations of 1 and 2 kopecks, dated 1925, are also known, which are a numismatic rarity). In subsequent years (1925-1928), copper half-kopeck coins were minted. Due to the fact that coin production consumed a lot of copper needed for industry, it was decided to stop the production of copper kopecks. Since 1926, the country switched to minting coins from an alloy of golden bronze (a copper-zinc alloy with the addition of aluminum to the alloy to improve the malleability of the material), but in 1961-1991. There are coins in denominations of 2 and 3 kopecks made of copper-nickel alloy.

From that moment on, a kopeck began to weigh exactly one gram, two kopecks - two grams, three kopecks - three grams, five kopecks - five grams, and in the ruble there were 100 grams in small coins. But, at the same time, the cost of minting a penny was the most expensive. Making a ruble cost 16 kopecks, and one kopeck cost 8 kopecks]. Therefore, during Soviet monetary reforms, they tried not to withdraw small change coins from circulation. In 1947, it was not touched at all, and during the reform of 1961, along with new money, they continued to remain in money circulation and old coins in denominations of 1, 2 and 3 kopecks.

In late Soviet times, for one kopeck you could buy a box of matches, two postal envelopes without stamps, or a glass of sparkling water without syrup.

Yeltsin's kopecks

On the eve of the August 1991 putsch, the State Bank of the USSR issued coins of a new design and parameters in denominations of 10, 50 kopecks, 1, 5, 10 rubles. People called them “Coins of the State Emergency Committee”. After the collapse of the USSR, inflation, gaining momentum, “ate” the penny. The Central Bank of Russia officially announced that, having reached its 460th anniversary, the kopeck ceased to exist and became history. However, formally, coins from the 1961-1991 issues (and even 1, 2 and 3 kopeck coins from earlier issues) continued to remain legal tender until December 31, 1998, and in 1999-2003 could theoretically be exchanged for new money in a ratio of 1000:1.

Only a penny could no longer buy anything.

Modern pennies

As a result of the redenomination of the Russian ruble on January 1, 1998, the kopek was revived in Russia. New kopecks have different denominations and weight. But on all of them, as in 1535, there is an image of a horseman with a spear.

Currently in circulation are silver coins of 1 and 5 kopecks (an alloy of steel and nickel) and copper-alloy coins of 10 and 50 kopecks. And these metals from which coins are minted (copper, steel and nickel), like many other resources, are constantly becoming more expensive. Therefore, today there is talk about abolishing all small change less than 1 ruble in Russia. And new “penny” coins are practically not printed anymore, since there are no orders for them. When making payments, people are not too willing to take even 50-kopeck coins and rubles as change, so as not to clutter their wallet with small change, which then takes a long time to count.

One of the most important components of the reform of Peter I was the minting and introduction into circulation of copper coins. Its relevance is due to two reasons: an acute shortage of silver and gold, as well as the need for coins of small denominations (fractions of a silver penny, the weight of which dropped to 0.28 grams by 1700).

The Tsar, well aware of his father’s unsuccessful attempt, which ended in the “copper riot” in 1662, introduced the copper coin very carefully and gradually. Issue copper money began in 1700 with a share of a kopeck - denezhka, half and half half (the latter was abandoned in the same year). The production of kopecks began in 1704. The personal decree on the minting of copper coins stated that “copper money, half and half half coins... are and will continue to be made in Moscow, at the money court, embossed, not cast or forged.” The main volume of copper for minting came from the Konchezersky plant in the Olonets region. Copper was also purchased abroad and from the population. Only in the 20s did large supplies of copper begin from state-owned and private copper smelters in the Urals. The price of copper in the first quarter of the 18th century was 6 - 8 rubles per pood. In 1700, minting began at a coin size of 12.8 rubles per pood. Then the price steadily decreased - in 1701-1703 - 15.44 rubles per pood, in 1704 - 1717 20 rubles per pood.

Four decades after " copper riot"1662, Peter returns to the idea of ​​​​making copper coin metal. Unlike the copper kopecks of Alexei Mikhailovich, minted with the same stamps as the silver ones, Peter’s copper coins have their own design and coin stack. Initially, they were planned as exchange fractions of a silver penny, the weight of which since 1698 reached its minimum of 0.28 g. On October 20, 1699, a decree was issued on organizing the production of copper small change per foot 12 rubles 80 kopecks per pood. In the same year, a special copper embankment yard was laid. From 1700, the yard began to operate, producing in the first three years only money, half and half half (the latter only in 1700).

The introduction of copper coins into circulation was carried out by a decree of March 11, 1700, which stated that they would be made “embossed, not cast or forged” and ordered the population to exchange “cut money” (cut for convenience in calculations) for them. Less than a year later, on January 12, 1701, a decree was issued to increase the coin stack to 15 rubles 44 kopecks from a pound of copper. On front side Copper change coins have a double-headed eagle, and on the reverse side - the denomination and year of issue in Slavic letters. On both sides around the images there are circular inscriptions with the title of the king. The spelling of the title has not yet been legalized - it can be more complete or short, with the words LORD or AUTOCRAT.

During the reign of Nicholas II, copper coins formed the basis of the country's monetary relations, and they were used for most small settlement transactions. They were issued annually in multi-million circulations until 1917 in such denominations as 5 kopecks, 3 kopecks, 2 kopecks, 1 kopeck, 1/2 kopeck and 1/4 kopeck, according to the pattern established from the mid-19th century. Due to their frequent occurrence, they are not of particular interest to many collectors, although there are real rarities here too. These include 5 kopecks and 3 kopecks in 1917, as well as 1/2 kopeck and 1/4 kopeck in 1894.

Copper coins in the everyday life of Russians at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries

Copper coins were small change and formed the basis of monetary relations among the common people living in a vast territory Russian Empire.

Under Nicholas II, coins of 5 kopecks, 3 and 2 kopecks, 1 kopeck, as well as 1/2 and 1/4 kopecks were minted from copper per foot of 50 rubles per pood (16 kg) - according to the type of denominations that developed back in the 1860s years.

In addition to St. Petersburg mint in 1896-1898, copper fines (with the exception of 5 kopecks) were produced by order of the government by the Birmingham Mint (Great Britain), and in 1899-1901 - by the private “Rosenkrantz factory” in St. Petersburg. Mint mark - “S.P.B.” - was placed on all coins, regardless of the actual place of minting, until 1914, after which the mark was abolished, and samples of coins were already issued without its designation.

Rosencrantz Factory 1910s

What could any owner of such copper coins do during the reign of Nicholas II? According to statistics from the last years of his reign (data taken from the Statistical Yearbook of Moscow. Issue 4. 1911-1913. - M., 1916.), prices in Moscow then correlated as follows:

• 1 kg of premium cereal cost approximately 17 kopecks, a measure of potatoes - 45 kopecks (1 measure is approximately equal to 1 pound), a pound (16 kg) of rye bread - 1 ruble 25 kopecks (1 loaf cost 3-5 kopecks);
• pound (about 400 g) of first grade beef - 24 kopecks; pound of veal - 37 kopecks; one chicken - 93 kopecks;
• a pound of butter - 50 kopecks, a bottle of milk - 8 kopecks;
• 1 glass of beer - 5 kopecks, 1 bottle of vodka (0.75 liters), "monopoly" - 35 kopecks, 1 glass ("bastard", approximately 60 milligrams) - 6 kopecks.

At the same time, any artisan, mason, carpenter or joiner earned a little less than 2 rubles a day; day laborer (depending on the work performed) - from 40 kopecks to 1 ruble. Women were paid less.

Design of copper coins of Nicholas II

During the time of Nicholas II, the design of the coins remained virtually unchanged compared to issues of previous years. Only on the smallest copper coins - “money” and “polushka” (1/2 and 1/4 kopecks) the imperial monogram is changed and the monogram “H II” is used, with a royal crown in ribbons and a wreath at the bottom. The reverse of these coins is characterized by maximum simplicity - the denomination number, two five-pointed decorative stars, the year of issue (before 1915 and the inscription S.P.B.), and decorative curls in the middle.

The design of the range of denominations from 5 to 1 kopeck will differ from appearance smaller coins, although it is typical. On the obverse there is a double-headed eagle, around it there is an ornamental edging in the Old Russian style with the inscriptions “COPPER RUSSIAN COIN” (above) and the letters denomination number and the word “KOPEEK” (below, for example “TWO KOPEYKS”).

On the reverse, the denomination is already indicated by a number (for example, “3 KOPEEK”) with two five-pointed decorative stars, under the vignette is the mint mark. The composition is framed by laurel and oak branches tied in a bow; the year of minting is indicated at the top. All copper coins have a ribbed edge, although variants with a smooth edge are also known.

Description of denominations and current prices

5 kopecks. This denomination was printed in silver for the vast majority of the reign of the last Emperor of Russia. However, since 1911, due to another reform (and most likely, the government’s desire to save on precious metals), 5 kopecks began to be printed from copper. Such five-kopeck coins are interesting due to the fact that they were produced in only three years - in 1911, 1912 and 1916.

5 kopecks of 1911 were minted in a circulation of 4 million. pieces, and today, in VF condition, they are valued in the range of 5-10 dollars. 5 kopecks of 1912 are much less common, because The circulation that year was about 3 million coins. They are also more expensive. This example in VF condition is offered for 15-30 US dollars. 5 kopecks from 1916 are the most expensive, although their circulation that year was 8 million. In VF condition, one copy is estimated at 50-80 US dollars. These coins were also issued in 1917, but were not put into circulation. Information about the circulation is also unknown, and such a copy is considered a real rarity.

3 kopecks. From 1895 to 1916, a three-kopeck coin, convenient for monetary transactions, was minted annually in multi-million circulations. How many copies were produced in 1917 is also unknown; in catalogs they are listed as extremely rare (index R4 according to Bitkin). Largest quantity was produced in 1916 - 25.6 million pieces.

The average cost of such a coin is more difficult to determine, because The price range here is very wide. In VF condition, 3 kopecks cost 3-10 dollars, in XF condition – from 5 to 30 US dollars.

2 kopecks. The “kopeck piece” was minted under Nicholas II in the 19th century, minted only in 1895, and then every year from 1902 to 1917 inclusive (and here the situation according to circulation data is similar).

In terms of value, this coin is also, in general, not particularly different. The coins are ordinary; finding them in good condition at a low price will not be difficult for any novice collector. Approximate prices: F - $1-2; VF - $3-10; XF- $10-20.

1 kopeck. It was minted only in 1894-1895, then from 1902 until 1916. The circulation each year numbers millions of copies, so prices do not vary much. Similar with prices for 2 kopecks. Only specimens from 1902 are valued more expensively; for the preservation of VF you can get from 12 to 25 US dollars.

1/2 kopeck And 1/4 kopeck. The rarest half- and quarter-kopeck coins date back to 1894, when Nicholas II had not yet been crowned. Apparently, very few of them were minted, the occurrence index according to Bitkin is R2, and the cost of such a coin reaches 1000 US dollars or even more.

Half-kopeks were printed from 1894-95, and then annually from 1908-1916. inclusive. “Quarters” were minted for only 6 years - in 1894, 1895, 1909, 1910, 1915 and 1916. The main part of such coins does not have a high value: F - $ 1-3 VF - $ 3-5. Samples from 1900 and 1908 are priced a little more expensive. - in VF condition - $5-15. Well, of course, the most expensive are two years - the first and last, 1895 (VF) - $15-25 and 1916 (VF) - more than 100 US dollars.