Soviet money is today a part of the history of the USSR, and for many people born under Soviet rule, it is objects of nostalgia. Banknotes with Ilyich on the obverse are known to everyone who was born before the mid-80s, and, of course, to numismatists. But the history of Soviet money - its appearance, development, etc., is not known by all, even of those who held such bills in their hands.
Most often, when they mention Soviet money, they mean the ruble, which existed from 1923 until the end of the Soviets. But in fact, Soviet money appeared several years earlier. They looked a little different, for example, pennies were paper, called differently, etc.
The first Soviet money
In 1919, it became known about the appearance of the first banknotes belonging to the category of Soviet money. Although the first mentions of replacing old money with Soviet securities began in 1917. The term for the provision of the first banknotes was delayed for 2 years due to disagreements between the members of the monetary committee.
The first money that the USSR invented at the dawn of its formation was radically different from those that circulated in the country at the end of its existence. There were differences in the ornament, and in the face value, and even in the special cliches used. Historians argue that most of the Soviet money was then produced abroad - in England. Coins began to be minted a little later. The time of their appearance dates back to 1924.
In 1922, by a resolution of the Council of People's Commissars, Soviet chervonets were put into circulation - an analogue of the modern ruble. They differed little from the money that was used in tsarist Russia - neither in weight nor in sample. According to the plan, several different types of chervonets were to be produced: on some it was planned to depict a worker at the machine, on others - a peasant.
It took about a year for the chervonets to spread over the territory of the Soviet Union. In the Far East, before the final introduction of the Soviet banknote, pre-revolutionary banknotes and Japanese yen were actively used. The money itself had quite a lot of weight and respect in the world economy due to the fact that it was backed by gold.
In 1925, the coat of arms of the USSR appeared on the banknotes, and the portrait of Lenin was first adorned with banknotes only in 1937. Soviet money in the form of chervonets existed until 1947, when during the reform they were replaced by rubles. The dignity of the newly issued money was equal to 10, 25, 50 and 100 rubles.
Today, the most expensive representative of Soviet money in the world is considered to be a copper coin of a chervonets, issued in 1925. Its cost is 5 million rubles.
At the end of the 50s of the 20th century, preparations began for the next monetary reform. Then it was decided to manufacture coins and banknotes of a new design. In 1961, the replacement of old banknotes with new ones, taking into account the denomination, began - 10 old rubles for 1 new one. At the same time, the gold content of the ruble was increased, and the banknotes themselves became smaller and more convenient than the previous ones. It was this money that remained the main banknotes of the Soviet Union until its collapse.
How much is Soviet money now?
Soviet money can still be realized today. As a rule, they are of interest to collectors. Naturally, however, not all money becomes a bargaining chip. So, for example, small change is most often taken in bulk and the payment is calculated per kilogram. Coins dated 1958 are of particular value to connoisseurs. This is due to the fact that only a trial batch was released, which the receivers did not really like and was sent for melting. Therefore, such coins are rare and very valuable - you can get about 10,000 rubles for them.
Valuable for collectors and error coins. For example, a 10-kopeck specimen, where on the emblem of the USSR, spikelets of wheat are wrapped around 16 ribbons, and not 15, as it should be.
