There is plenty of information about the rarest and most expensive coins of modern Russia on the Internet, but not every novice numismatist will be able to understand such a huge flow of contradictory information. In this article, in order to systematize knowledge and make it easier to work with it, valuable banknotes are systematized into several groups. In the following lists you can find both collectible rarities worth up to 500 thousand rubles, as well as less expensive items that are definitely available in the cash flow.
Important! All prices below are approximate; the actual sales price may differ from the values shown. More information about prices.
- 10 rubles
- Money without traces of circulation
What determines the value of coins? Mint, year, walker and other terms
To distinguish a rare and expensive coin from an ordinary one, you need to learn several numismatic terms and points. Without them, it will be difficult for you to understand further tables and lists in our catalog.
Currently, there are two types of coins in the Russian Federation’s monetary circulation. The first are ordinary money of regular minting (they are also called “hodochka”). These are the familiar rubles (in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10) and kopecks (1, 5, 10, 50), which have been minted from 1997 to the present.
Regularly minted money (“walking money”)
The second are commemorative non-precious rubles of the Bank of Russia, issued on certain dates or in entire series dedicated to cities or important events. They are much less common. Sometimes, before they even reach the cash registers and wallets, they are confiscated by numismatists or sellers.
Modern anniversary and commemorative money of the Bank of Russia
It is mandatory to indicate the denomination, year of issue and mint .
Denomination, year of minting and mint mark are required attributes
Mint (MD) is an enterprise engaged in minting coins. There are two mints in Russia - in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Money from different factories is distinguished by MD signs. For Moscow money, the icon is made up of the letters MMD (in rubles) or represented by the capital letter “M” (in kopecks). On St. Petersburg coins you can find the sign “SPMD” or the letters “SP”.
Mint marks on Russian rubles
Letters indicating places of mintage on kopecks
Treasures of the World Series (Palau)
If you want to put together the three main stones - sapphire, emerald and ruby, then let's remember the Palau series, where this trinity is in company with amethyst and topaz. The design of the issue is reminiscent of the Belarusian “Fairy Tales of the Peoples of the World,” where bright stones or crystals are part of the artistic composition. Only the plots of this series are devoted not to fictitious stories, but to pages of the chronicle of mining and manufacturing production, so the issue is addressed not only to numismatists, but also to historians and geologists. The first item in the series was a coin with a piece of emerald. Depending on the color, good quality emeralds can be valued at more than diamonds. These precious stones are rare, but are extremely in demand in jewelry. The main enterprises producing them are located in Colombia, South Africa and Russia. To make the coins, we used 925-sterling silver. Each of them has a five-dollar denomination, weighs 25 grams with a diameter of 38.61 mm and is produced in quantities of 2,000 pieces.
Modern rubles and kopecks of regular minting
The most expensive coins. List with prices by year
So, determining which coins are the most expensive is now very simple. We open any catalog of Russian coins 1997-2019 and look for (write out) the rarest money, usually they are designated by the letter “R”, that is, rarity (collector rarity). As a result, we will get the following list with prices by year:
| Description (denomination and year) | price, rub. |
| 5 kopecks and 5 rub. 1999 | 300 thousand |
| 2 rub. 2000 | 300 thousand |
| 50 kopecks, 1 rub., 2 rub., 5 rub. 2001 | 400 thousand |
| 5 rub. 2006 | 200 thousand |
| all denominations 2011 SPMD | 400 thousand |
| all denominations 2012 SPMD | 400 thousand |
When indicating prices in the table, we were guided by the “Catalogue of coins of the USSR and Russia 1918-2019” from the publishing house Coins Moscow. The cost of the listed valuable specimens is very approximate; it was formed based on the results of auctions of only 1-2 lots that took place several years ago, or is even predictable.
All coins listed are either proof and experimental or custom. Don't expect to find them in your wallet or piggy bank. Their high cost is due to their inaccessibility.
Table of valuable coins from circulation
Of course, everyone secretly wants to find the above-mentioned specimens, worth 2-4 thousand rubles. But it’s better to discard these dreams and concentrate on finding valuable coins that can actually be found. Yes, their cost is not so significant, but you can make money on them already in the first days of your search.
The list of such infrequent and rare coins that are in circulation looks like this:
| Description, year, denomination | Cost, R. |
| 50 kopecks 1999 M/SP | 50/100 |
| 1 ruble 1999 MMD/SPMD | 10/20 |
| 2 rubles 1999 MMD/SPMD | 300/100 |
| 50 kopecks 2002 M/SP | 20/80 |
| 1 ruble 2002 MMD/SPMD | 9000/8500 |
| 2 rubles 2002 MMD/SPMD | 9000/8500 |
| 5 steering wheels 2002 MMD/SPMD | 9000/8500 |
| 1 ruble 2003 SPMD | 20000 |
| 2 rubles 2003 SPMD | 15000 |
| 5 rubles 2003 SPMD | 13000 |
| 5 rubles 2010 SPMD | 20 |
| 1 kopeck 2021 SP | 1500 |
| 5 kopecks 2021 SP | 1500 |
The prices in our table are slightly lower than those usually mentioned on other sites. In this case, we do not seek to shock the reader with the maximum possible amounts that can be obtained for this or that valuable coin. Our goal is to show the real value of rubles and kopecks taken from circulation (sometimes tarnished and worn). Of course, on those copies that have been preserved in a more worthy form, you can sometimes earn several times more.
Rare varieties. What do they look like and how to distinguish them from ordinary ones?
Similar coins may differ slightly from each other in one or another element, part of the ornament. Such differences appear due to the use of different stamps. Money of the same denomination, mint and year of issue, but having differences are called varieties (or varieties).
There are several infrequent and rare varieties that have a high cost. Some of them have such microscopic differences that only experienced numismatists can examine and understand them. Let's leave their search to specialists, and we'd rather pay attention to simpler varieties with obvious differences.
We advise you to pay attention to the following rare varieties:
- 5 kopecks 2002 (5-7 thousand rubles) and 2003 (1-2 thousand rubles) without mint mark.
Photo of rare 5 kopecks 2002 and 2003 without MD designation
- A version of the 1-ruble coin of 1997 MMD with a wide edge is estimated from 1 to 6 thousand rubles.
Image showing the differences of an expensive ruble with a wide edge
- 1 ruble 1998 MMD with wide edging (price – 2000 – 3000 RUR)
The picture shows how to recognize a valuable variety with a wide edge
- A 10-ruble coin from 2010 with the SPMD icon and lines that touch its inner walls costs up to 1000 RUR.
The image has enlarged a fragment that is worth paying attention to (if there is a groove along the inner edge of the number zero, then this is a simple option)
- 10-kopeck coin from 2001 with the letters SP and transverse folds on the cloak (its cost is 1000 - 2000 RUR)
Take a closer look at the cloak to distinguish a simple variety from a valuable one.
The most expensive coins of Russia found in monetary circulation
1, 2 and 5 rubles 2003.
In 2003, only penny denominations were minted in mass circulation. But at the St. Petersburg Mint a small number of 1, 2 and 5 ruble coins were produced to compile annual souvenir sets. Even colorful packaging envelopes were printed dedicated to the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, but for unknown reasons everything fell through. Collectors never saw them, and the delegations who came to celebrate the anniversary were left without gifts. As a result, all 15 thousand coins of each denomination were packed into bank bags and sent to storage, where they safely remained for almost three years. And only in March 2006, ruble denominations with the date 2003 began to appear in ordinary monetary circulation, causing a shock among numismatists. After all, before this it was believed that they simply did not exist, like, say, coins from 2001. Since then, prices for them have been constantly rising, now reaching 30 thousand for 1 ruble coin and 20 thousand each for 2 and 5 ruble coins. New coins are constantly being found, some will dig them up in a jar, some will get them as change, but every year there are fewer and fewer of them. Maybe you'll get lucky! Look and look for the treasured numbers 2003.
5 rubles 1999.
This is a ghost coin, at the moment there are only 3 known copies. Officially, the Central Bank denies that they were issued, although all three coins are undoubtedly genuine and made at SPMD. The only question is why and how they later got into monetary circulation, and not for melting down. At least one of those sellers who put them up for sale for 210,000 rubles. tried to convince the “numismatic community” that he received this five in a minibus. Maybe so, although you can’t say anything for the sake of an extra hundred thousand rubles. But if you believe it, look... for information: for the first two years of minting new coins, 1997 - 1998. They released so many 5-ruble notes that they were not produced for ten years until 2008. In 2002, they were issued only for souvenir sets (if you suddenly come across them, the price is 10 thousand rubles), I wrote about 2003 above. There are single copies of 5 rubles from 2001 and 2006, also genuine and also with a very vague history of appearance.
***
5 kopecks 1999.
At the moment, there are only about 5 of them in the collections of numismatists; all were found among ordinary coins, more than ten years after issue. They first became famous in 2013, after a certain granny “attached” a bag of unnecessary change to a local merchant at one of the flea markets in Kemerovo. Having reviewed it, he discovered 5 kopecks from 1999, which were considered non-existent until that moment. The sale of the coin was carried out through the online forum of numismatists, the bidding began at 600 thousand rubles and at the figure of 300,000 the seller’s “wants” and the buyer’s desires coincided numerically.
Where did these two rarities with the date 1999 come from? Perhaps, when SPMD prepared new stamps for 1999, they carried out operational tests and finished coins of all denominations, as usual, were mixed with the total circulation dated 1998. And everything would have been fine if The Central Bank suddenly decided not to mint these denominations in 1999. The batch of coins on which the new stamps with three nines in the date were tested has already been distributed to the regions, and “reinforcements” in the form of the main circulation did not follow. So it’s quite likely that hundreds of other such nickels and nickels are still waiting in the wings, resting in little capsules.
Bimetallic coins of 2010 - Perm region, Chechnya, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
In 2010, according to the Central Bank's plan, it was planned to issue all 10 ruble coins in the “Regions of Russia” series in a regular circulation of 10 million pieces. But interruptions in the supply of bimetallic blanks to the MD disrupted these plans. The minting of Perm Territory coins stopped at around 200 thousand pieces. With an even smaller circulation, 100 thousand copies each, coins dedicated to the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Chechen Republic were released.
With a certain amount of luck, they can be found in circulation; after all, they were released for circulation, and most of them ended up there. The only question is how long they stayed there. In any case, you need to know their approximate cost. A dozen dedicated to the Perm region is valued at 3,000 rubles. The most expensive coin in the selection is “Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug”, its price reaches 12,000 rubles. But if you come across a “Chechen Republic”, that’s also good, collectors buy them for 10,000 rubles. a piece.
So, we looked through the coins, if we didn’t find rare combinations of the year and the denomination, don’t be upset, the fun begins - the search for varieties that are typical only for a small part of the circulation.
1 ruble 1997 and 1998 - wide edge, a very rare and expensive variety.
Commemorative coins
It is believed that all commemorative coins are worth more than their face value. But this statement is true only for copies that do not have traces of handling (distributed in individual protective packaging). But in circulation we find only worn copies, the numismatic value of which is often equal to their face value.
The most expensive commemorative coins
Among the anniversaries there are their own legendary specimens, which are well-known even among people unfamiliar with numismatics. These are tens of ChNP and 2 rubles with Gagarin without the MD sign.
10-ruble issues of 2010 - “Chechen Republic” (5000 RUR), “Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug” (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) (13000 RUR) and “Perm Territory” (3000 RUR). They are called CHYAP . Their current value for 2019 is indicated in brackets. The rapid increase in their price is due to the fact that instead of the planned 10 million pieces, only 100-200 thousand of each issue were released.
Photos of the rarest anniversary tens
The 2-ruble anniversary of 2001 with the image of Gagarin was issued by MMD and SPMD, as evidenced by the badges of coin factories in the branches of floral patterns. The coin has several varieties. The most famous and expensive option is the variety without a mint mark. It is very valuable (10-14 thousand rubles), it is difficult to find.
The image compares simple (signed) and expensive (unsigned) instances
What other commemorative coins can be sold for high prices?
By their very nature, Bank of Russia issues of modern non-precious commemorative coins are intended for circulation. Initially, this was the case; the first rubles with images of ministries, cities, and famous personalities went into circulation entirely. Where they quickly dissolved in the general mass, becoming a rarity.
Therefore, more than 100 rubles. are worth many 10-ruble bimetallic coins issued from 2000 to 2010 inclusive, even darkened and fairly worn
Separately, it is necessary to highlight dozens of “Population Census” and “Nenets Autonomous Okrug”, which are valued at over 400 rubles.
Early 10-ruble issues of the “Ancient Cities of Russia” series are also highly valued (on average 100-400 rubles per copy)
The situation is completely different with the releases of recent years. Almost all of their circulation ends up in stores that are ready to reduce prices almost to face value, while making money on additional services.
Thus, anniversary and commemorative issues after 2010 (2, 5, 10 and 25 rubles), which were found in circulation, are not valuable. Most often, their value is equal to the face value.
Firstly, this applies to issues of the “Cities of Military Glory” series and other yellow tens, which, even in excellent condition, are worth only 2-3 of their face value.
Issues of the “Cities of Military Glory” series and other dozens with yellow brass coating have no significant value.
How much do rare types of marriage cost?
Firstly, not every defect is a defect. Secondly, not every marriage will increase the value of a banknote. Let's decide which defects you shouldn't pay attention to.
Feel free to release back into circulation all copies with defects in galvanic coating. These include various smudges, sagging, drops, often accompanied by changes in the shape of letters and numbers, and unevenness at the edges of images. Such defects are mistakenly taken for new varieties, but they have no value.
On the money of recent years, you can often see various defects in the galvanic coating.
Modern coins have a steel core; after a few years it begins to rust, which manifests itself as swelling, as in the photo. This is not a marriage.
Blisters on the surface due to corrosion of the steel core
The quality of minting new coins is decreasing every year; now small unminted coins are not surprising.
Most often, unstruck coins are found on dozens, where the date disappears first. Ten rubles without the year of issue are not worth more than their face value.
Defects that appear after minting are not considered defective - various dents, scratches, notches, holes, cracks. Most often they are applied by people aimlessly, just to keep their hands busy.
Such defects are not defective. No matter how beautiful and extravagant they are, they will not be sold.
Coins with such defects as a split stamp, crumbling or contamination of the stamp, misalignment, biting out, or significant unmarking will be of little value, but still clearly more expensive than their face value. The price of such marriages starts from 50 rubles, and if the marriage is serious or combined, then the cost can be more than 1000 rubles. Examples in the photo:
Such fat, complete stamp splits are often valued at amounts close to 1 thousand rubles.
Money with a defective “stamp crumb”. They are priced relatively inexpensively, on average 50-500 rubles.
The photo shows examples of defective “stamp blockage”; it appears as depressions on the minted banknote. It usually costs no more than 500 rubles.
Small bites cost 100-300 rubles, the price of huge bites (pictured on the right) reaches 2-3 thousand rubles.
Turns are more expensive (up to 1000 rubles) if one side is offset relative to the other by 90 or 180 degrees. To confirm the angle of rotation, take a photo with a rope.
The following defects cost more than a thousand rubles (1-5 thousand rubles): pronounced displacements, multiple strokes, incuse defects, one-sided minting and some others:
In the photo on the left is a displacement, in the middle is a multiple blow, on the right is an incuse defect (sticking)
The most expensive marriages include mix-ups, when, due to confusion, one coin is minted with a stamp from another. Their cost can exceed 50 thousand rubles.
For example, the 50-kopeck coin of 2007 is widely known, in which the side with the rider is minted with a stamp of 5 kopecks. Due to the difference in stamp sizes, the edge of the defective coin was very wide. This mix-up is very rare; it was sold in 2014 for RUR 81,000.
There are also mix-ups regarding the blank, when a non-standard circle intended for another banknote was used for minting. Such mix-ups are estimated at 2-3 tens of thousands.
Unique ten on a mug from a 5-ruble coin (differs from the standard one in color, weight and size)
1 dollar 2012 “Christmas”
But if you want to collect the maximum of multi-colored stones, limiting yourself to a single coin, then Australia managed to mint one. Its theme is Christmas and everything connected with it. The Christmas atmosphere is symbolized by snowflakes on the reverse. In the center of one of them is a capsule-insert filled with semi-precious stones of various colors. Everyone will see something different in them. Someone will remember the lights of the Christmas tree garland. Others will think about expensive and original gifts, which are often jewelry. This is also an ounce (31.1 grams of silver) with a diameter of 40.6 mm. Its circulation was 5,000 copies.
Results! What modern money is worth saving?
So, let's once again list which coins of modern Russia that you will encounter should be put aside.
1.Rare years:
- 1999 (50 kopecks, 1 and 2 rubles)
- all rubles of 2002 and 2003
- 50 kopecks 2002
- 5 rub. 2010 SPMD
- 1 and 5 kopecks 2014
2. Expensive varieties (see photo above)
3. Anniversary coins are in high condition, as well as anniversaries from the 00s.
4. Any non-standard money (defective)
Where to evaluate and how to sell expensive rare coins?
Rare coin found! What to do next?
Grade
To evaluate your finds and sell them in the future, you will need good photographs.
Take photos in bright daylight. Usually, in such conditions, a simple smartphone is enough for high-quality photos. Be sure to trim the edges of the photo, removing all excess; rotate the image so that the date is at the bottom.
An example of successful photographs, from such photos you can easily make an assessment and sell it profitably
You can evaluate it yourself (by finding sales of similar coins on the Internet) or by contacting numismatic forums . For example, you will always find help on the forums: coins.lave.ru and coins.su
On the forums, be sure to read the rules, post your question, attaching a photo, in the appropriate topic, and describe in detail the coin for which you require grading. If you do everything correctly, expert help will not be long in coming.
You should not evaluate coins in so-called purchases, which make money by purchasing valuable coins in large quantities. Experts in such places are interested in lower estimates.
Australian Treasures Series
However, there are coins that also contain natural stones. First of all, let's get acquainted with storage coins. Each of them contains a transparent capsule filled with small precious or semi-precious stones. For example, the “Treasures of Australia” series is designed for both silver and gold coin collectors. The capsules present the natural resources of the continent, which are widely used in jewelry production: sapphires, opals, diamonds, gold, and pearls. The silver coin has a diameter of 40.6 mm, a thickness of 4 mm, a value of 1 dollar and was issued in a quantity of 7,500 pieces. The denomination of the gold coin is 100 dollars with a diameter of 36.1 mm, a thickness of 3 mm and a mintage of one thousand copies. Both coins have the 999th purity of the metal, of which they contain exactly a troy ounce. Fiji’s “Treasures of Mother Nature” series is made using the same principle, in the capsules of which you can find topaz, peridot, rhodium, smoky quartz and other remarkable elements.
