Metals used for the production of Russian coins. What alloy are Russian coins made of? What are 10 kopeck coins made of?

What metal are coins made of? Or rather, what metals are used to make coins? The question is certainly very interesting.
In this article we will try to describe the main metals and alloys from which coins are made.
Since the time when people began to use the first metal money, various individual metals, as well as alloys, have been used for their production. So in Russia, starting from the 18th century. For these purposes, copper, silver and gold were mainly used. A little later, platinum was added to this list, but not for long. Even later, aluminum bronze was used to produce metal money.

List of main metals and alloys that are used for minting coins:
1) Gold. This metal has excellent chemical resistance. Used for minting large denomination coins. To produce coins, metal of different grades is used.
2) Platinum. This metal, like gold, has excellent chemical resistance, but is now used extremely rarely for making coins.
3) Silver. It was one of the first metals used to make money. It has a number of properties that allow it to be used in the process of minting coins. In coin production, metal of different grades is used.
4) Palladium is a platinum group metal. Color – white-silver. IN modern Russia, starting in 1992, they issued several coins made of palladium in denominations of 5, 10 and 25 rubles. Now this metal is not used for making coins in Russia.
5) Copper- a red metal with chemical resistance lower than silver and gold. When exposed to moisture, coins become coated in different shades. The metal was used in Russia and the USSR from 1700 to 1926. for making small change coins.
6) Aluminum bronze. This is an alloy yellow color, in which 95% copper and only 5% aluminum. Example: the first Soviet coins of 1926 -1957. in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks.
7) Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc with a yellow tint. In Soviet times, the alloy was used to mint coins in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks.
8) Cupronickel. This is the name for an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel in the ratio of 60%: 20%: 20%. Alloy color – silver.
9) Copper-nickel alloy, which has a silvery tint. In terms of its chemical and mechanical properties it is slightly inferior to cupronickel. An example is Soviet coins of 10, 15, 20 and 50 kopecks.
10) Steel coated with other metals. An example of these coins is modern Russian coins of 10 and 50 kopecks, which use copper-plated steel.
11) Bimetallic coins- these are coins made of two metals and having two components, each of which consists of different metals, such as brass and cupronickel.
And this is still far from full list metals and alloys from which coins are made.

A coin is a monetary sign made of metal that serves as a legal means of circulation and payment. Most often, coins are round, less often oval in shape. Previously, coins were minted or cast from copper, silver or gold. Modern coins are usually made from alloys of aluminum, copper or nickel. The name “coin” comes, as scientists believe, from the second name of the Roman goddess Juno, at whose temple money was minted in ancient Rome. Juno was called the Mentor, which in Latin sounded like Juno Coin.

Each coin has a front side (called the obverse) and a reverse side (called the reverse). The side edge of a coin, its edge, is called the edge. The science that comprehensively studies the history of monetary circulation and coinage is numismatics.

After a short excursion into history, we will tell you how coins are made at a modern mint.

Coin making process

• First, the designer develops a sketch of the coin on paper, after which he creates an enlarged three-dimensional model of it. Then the model is covered with a thick layer of silicone-based rubber, which conveys the entire relief of the model in the smallest detail. When the rubber hardens, it is carefully removed and a kind of “negative” of the coin is obtained - the convex parts of the image become concave and, conversely, the concave parts become convex. The resulting negative mold is filled with epoxy resin and waited for it to harden, after which the epoxy copy is removed from the silicone mold.
• A special reduction machine transfers the image from the epoxy copy to a master stamp made of steel. During the transfer process, the image is reduced, and the size of the resulting stamp already corresponds to the specified dimensions of the future coin.
• Based on the main master die, working dies are created from high-strength steel. They are hardened, polished and then chrome plated to give them extra strength and increase their service life.
• On special presses, round blanks of coins are cut and their edge is processed, applying the necessary inscriptions and notches to it.
• After this, the workpiece is heated, cooled, etched and polished to a mirror shine. The blank is now ready to be loaded into the coin press.
• Steel punches strike both sides of the coin at the same time, after which the new and shiny finished coins just need to be counted and packaged.

This concludes our story about how coins are made. Finally, some information about Russian coins.

Modern coins of Russia

• Now in circulation are coins of the 1997 model in denominations of one, five, ten and fifty kopecks, as well as one, five, ten and twenty-five rubles. Now a few words about what metal coins are made of. One- and five-kopeck coins are minted from cupronickel-clad steel, ten and fifty kopecks are made from brass, one- and two-ruble coins are made from copper-nickel alloy, and ten rubles are made from brass-plated steel.
• Modern Russian coins are minted at two mints - Moscow and St. Petersburg. Coins are marked with the mark of the mint where they were minted. Sometimes you come across coins that do not have such a mark due to technical irregularities in the minting process. Coins without a mint mark are extremely rare and therefore very expensive. So, for example, for a five-kopeck coin from 2002 that does not have a hallmark, collectors are willing to pay five thousand rubles, and a 50-kopeck coin from 2001 with the hallmark of the Moscow Mint will bring its lucky owner an incredible amount - as much as one hundred thousand rubles!

Silver ten-kopeck coin of 1713 (Hermitage exhibition)

The first Russian coins appeared more than a thousand years ago, but almost the entire period of history was based money supply was silver. In pre-Mongol Rus', instead of the word “money”, which has Tatar roots, the word “silver” was even used, which emphasizes the importance of silver in monetary circulation. During feudal fragmentation The first copper coins - pula - appear, but they had very limited circulation. Gold coins arose under Ivan III, but for a long time they were reward coins and almost did not participate in circulation. And only under Peter I, gold and copper were firmly included in the monetary system, while copper coins played the role of change, and gold coins served more as a means of accumulation or for carrying out large financial transactions.

The purchasing power of the coins slightly exceeded the cost of the metal, so the goal of the counterfeiters was not to make copies of the coins, but to underestimate the fineness, reduce the weight, and cut off the metal from the real coin. In the 20s of the 20th century, various alloys replaced expensive metals, and coins turned into coin-shaped banknotes. Gold and silver are now used only in the manufacture of collectible and investment coins. Palladium and platinum have also been added to them, but their share in the production of collectible coins is very insignificant.

Silver

The first silver coins “srebreniks” began to be minted under Prince Vladimir the Great around the 990s. The period of independent Russian coinage did not last long, and already in the second half of the 11th century the “Coinless Period” began, when silver bars were used as a means of payment. The issue of coins was resumed during the reign of Dmitry Donskoy; from that time on, there were coins of only two denominations - denga and polushka, all of them were silver. Under Ivan the Terrible, the first kopecks appeared, which became the basis of monetary circulation. In 1654-1655, the first ruble coins were issued, which were also made of silver, but the full circulation of the silver ruble had to wait another half century.

Peter's monetary reform significantly transformed appearance coins, added many new denominations, but silver coins in denominations from a kopeck to a ruble (later from 5 kopecks to a ruble) were still the main ones. It was possible to completely abandon the use of precious metal in monetary circulation only with Soviet power. The last silver coins date back to 1931 (10, 15 and 20 kopecks), fifty kopecks disappeared in 1927, and rubles even earlier - in 1924.

Silver bullion coin

In 1977, for the upcoming Olympics, collectible silver coins of improved minting quality were issued; in subsequent years, the production of silver commemorative and anniversary coins was continued. Currently, several dozen types of collectible and investment coins are issued annually; they can be purchased in banks at a special price. The weight of such coins ranges from 15 grams to 5 kg.

Gold

Golden chervonets of Peter I (Hermitage exhibition)

The first Russian gold coins appeared at about the same time as silver coins - at the end of the 10th century, but their production had a very small volume, and under subsequent rulers it stopped altogether. Under Ivan III, the minting of gold grant coins began, which were awarded to outstanding architects, builders, and also for various merits. These coins were not full-fledged in cash, although they came into circulation from time to time. Since the era of Peter I, the gold coin has occupied a special niche in monetary circulation; 2-ruble coins and chervonets coins without indicating the denomination are made from gold. Under Elizaveta Petrovna, 5 and 10 rubles appear. The gold coin remained a hard currency, an alternative to constantly depreciating banknotes. During Civil War among the population they (especially the Nikolaev 10 rubles) had a high exchange rate and were in great demand.

In 1923, a large edition of Soviet gold chervonets was issued, the size and weight of which coincided with the Tsar's 10 rubles. Their goal was to reinforce the paper chervonets, which had a gold backing. The population did not receive such coins, and they were not accepted abroad because of Soviet symbols, so the issue was not continued, and the bulk of the circulation was melted down. In 1975-1982, new-made chervonets were issued with exactly the same images, but different dates; currently they serve as investment coins.

Since 1977, in addition to collectible silver coins, gold coins have been minted. The production reached its greatest volume in 2010-2013, after which it began to decline. However, several types of gold coins are currently produced annually and can be purchased from banks at special prices. In addition to this, investment gold coins of UNC quality are issued, the cost of which is slightly lower than collectible ones.

Copper

5 kopecks 1802 (Hermitage exhibition)

Copper coins - pools were made in Novgorod and Tver back in the 15th century; they were small and had an irregular shape, like silver coins of that time. It is still unknown exactly in what ratio they were equated to silver; there are different opinions: from 20/1 to 150/1. With the unification of Rus', local types of coins disappeared, and with them the pools. Copper monetary circulation was revived under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, when they tried to equalize coins made of silver and copper that were identical in size and weight. This caused a strong drop in the exchange rate of copper coins and the famous “Copper Riot”; the idea had to be abandoned. Since 1700, the first full-fledged copper coins of a round shape were issued, which, compared with the silver “scales” that circulated in parallel with them, were significantly ahead of their time. The high quality of copper coins made it possible to partially introduce copper into circulation and replace scarce silver with it.

For more than 200 years, copper coins served as change, the denominations were low: from half a half to 5 kopecks (sometimes a coin with a denomination of 10 kopecks was produced). In 1924, when the Soviet ruble finally strengthened, copper coins in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks (from 1925 - half a kopeck) came into circulation, but within two years they began to be replaced by more durable and cheaper bronze ones. IN modern history Russia also issued a copper coin - 5 rubles, model 1997, which had a copper base and plating made of cupronickel alloy. Since 2009, they have been replaced by coins with a steel base, but copper ones can still often be found in circulation.

Kolyvan copper

Siberian 10 kopecks (Hermitage exhibition)

When gold and silver were isolated from the copper ore of the Kolyvan deposit in Altai in the second half of the 18th century, the resulting copper remained with a small admixture of the precious metal. It was impossible to visually distinguish Kolyvan copper from ordinary copper, but the gold content in it reached 0.01% and about 0.8% silver. The estimated price of the metal was 24.24 rubles per pound, while the cost of ordinary copper was 6 rubles per pound. The President of the Mint Department, I. Schlatter, proposed minting special “Siberian” coins from this copper, which would be one and a half times lighter than ordinary ones. For the issue, the Suzunsky Mint is created near modern Barnaul. Minting lasted from 1763 to 1781, denominations from half a half to 10 kopecks were issued. The coins had completely different images and the coat of arms of Siberia. Just a few years after the start of production, the technology for separating metals was modernized, and the content of precious impurities became completely insignificant, but the weight of Siberian coins was not increased. The end of production was a consequence of rampant counterfeiting; criminals made coins from ordinary copper, which was four times cheaper, while receiving huge profits.

Platinum

Platinum coin with a face value of 12 rubles (Hermitage exhibition)

At the end of the reign of Alexander I, significant deposits of a metal unknown at that time - platinum - were found in the Urals. With the coming to power of Nicholas I, the minting of platinum coins in special denominations was organized: 3, 6 and 12 rubles. The fact is that, to save money, the same equipment and presses were used in the manufacture of circles as in the manufacture of silver blanks. The estimated cost of platinum was 12 times higher than silver, and its density was 2 times higher. Therefore, 12 rubles had the size of 1 ruble, 6 rubles 50 kopecks, and 3 rubles 25 kopecks. Coins were produced en masse in 1828-1845, but again counterfeiters, who used ordinary silver as a raw material, became an obstacle. Moreover, there were cases of fraud when regular silver coins were issued instead of platinum coins (it was easy to confuse them in the dark). After the end of the issue, all the platinum stored in the treasury and the coins that were collected from the population were sold to England.

The revival of platinum coinage occurred already in Soviet times; these were collector's issues of improved quality, dedicated to various events. Production was discontinued in 1995.

Palladium

Palladium is very similar to platinum, but has a much lower density, close to silver. Palladium coins were produced only in 1977-1995, these were collector's issues of improved quality PROOF and Uncirculated.

Copper-nickel alloys

In 1931, silver coins were replaced by 10, 15 and 20 kopecks made of a new material - a copper-nickel alloy. As the name suggests, it is based on copper and nickel with the addition of a small proportion of other metals. There are different alloys, but they are all quite resistant to environment, have a silvery color. The copper content reaches 90%, but can be significantly less; the nickel content usually does not exceed 20%. From 1997 to 2009, coins of 1 and 2 rubles were made from nickel silver, and 25 rubles from 2011 from cupronickel. Cupronickel silver was also the insert for bimetallic 10 rubles until 2017.

The most common types of copper-nickel alloy:
cupronickel - 68-93% copper, 5-30% nickel, up to 0.8% iron, up to 1% manganese;
nickel silver - 5-35% nickel, 13-45% zinc, the rest is copper;
Monel - up to 67% nickel, up to 38% copper.

Characteristics of cupronickel:

Bronze

Bronze replaced the more expensive copper in Soviet-era currency. Another advantage of bronze is its higher resistance to aggressive environments. Bronze contains a large part of copper (up to 90%) and other metals (tin, aluminum, beryllium, silicon, lead). Depending on the metal it contains, bronze is called tin (or simply bronze), aluminum, etc. Bronze has a reddish-golden color, more yellow than pure copper. It quickly fades when exposed to air, forming a protective film that prevents further oxidation. The first bronze coins came out in 1926, using aluminum bronze. After 1957, the use of bronze in coin production ceased, and was replaced by a copper-zinc alloy. Since the 1990s, bronze has been used to make rings or inserts for bimetallic coins.

Brass

Brass differs from bronze in its lower copper content and the presence of zinc as the second component of the alloy. It is much cheaper than bronze and pure copper. In the production of Russian coins, brass was used mainly as a coating for steel blanks (1 and 5 rubles 1992, 50 rubles 1993-1995, 10 and 50 kopecks since 2006), but in 1997-2006 10 and 50 kopeck coins were made of pure brass In addition, some denominations in the sets of commemorative coins of 1995-1996 and the ring for the bimetallic ten of 2000-2016 were brass.

Copper-zinc alloy (a type of brass)

This alloy differs from brass in other proportions of copper and zinc, and was developed specifically for the manufacture of coins, therefore it is more resistant to various influences. All coins of 1961-1991 with the Soviet coat of arms in denominations from 1 to 5 kopecks were minted from it. In addition, 50 rubles from 1993, a circle for a bimetallic coin of the “Red Book” series and a ring for 10 rubles from 1991.

Nickel

There are known test 2-kopeck coins from 1883, found in 1887 at the St. Petersburg Mint in the amount of 68 pieces. Later a note was found from the head of the mint N.P. Vollendorf, which mentions the proposal of the Ural industrialist Permikin to mint nickel coins from the metal mined in his mines. It was planned to use almost pure nickel, which had minor impurities due to the impossibility of their isolation.

In 1911 and 1916, the idea of ​​minting nickel coins was returned to, but things did not go beyond trial issues.

Tompak alloy

Since 2006, tombak alloy has been used to cover ten- and 50-kopeck steel coins, the minting of which ceased in 2015. The alloy is considered higher quality and more expensive than bronze; cutlery, dishes, and interior items are made from it. However, as time has shown, on coins it quickly darkens and loses its beautiful golden color.

Steel

The cheapest material used in the production of coins. Since the early 90s, low denomination coins (1 and 5 rubles) have been minted from it, and since 1997, 1 and 5 kopecks. In 2006, 10 and 50 kopecks began to be made from coated steel instead of using expensive brass, and since 2009, 1, 2 and 5 rubles. In the same year, a steel 10-ruble coin with a brass coating came into circulation, and since 2017, even bimetallic coins began to be made on steel blanks coated with metals of two colors. Despite the cheapness of the metal, minting 1 and 5 kopecks became unprofitable, and since 2015 it was necessary to abandon 10 and 50 kopecks. The metal is very hard, which leads to rapid wear of the stamps, and therefore modern coins have a high percentage of defects in the form of unminted or split stamps.

Money of ancient times was most often made from precious metals. After all, slow-moving coins were easily melted down and turned into jewelry. Their denomination approximately corresponded to the value of the metal. They also used a natural alloy of gold and silver - electrum. When silver became too expensive, and the money made from it became small and inconvenient, copper and its alloy with tin - bronze - came into use. Thus, the main coin group gradually formed, consisting of gold, silver and copper. In the illustration below we will see this trinity using the example of making medals along with alchemical symbols (top left - gold, top right - silver, bottom left - copper).

In difficult times, when coining from copper turned out to be too expensive, iron, lead and tin were used. After low prices for aluminum were established, they began to use it to produce small items. In numismatic catalogs, even if they indicate the composition of the alloy (and pure metals are most often unsuitable for walking), they still define one or another section according to the base metal: “gold”, “silver” or “copper” (“bronze”).

Main metal of coins of the Russian Federation

If we are talking about everyday items that have recently left the mint, then they are made of steel. It is an alloy of iron with the addition of carbon that is currently the basis for the issuance of negotiable banknotes Russian Federation. Considering that coin steel contains up to 1.7% carbon, we are talking about high-carbon steel.

To make coins wear-resistant and resist corrosion, they are plated. For the most recent issues of denominations below the ruble, this is brass. Ruble denomination coins are plated with nickel. All steel coins have pronounced magnetic properties. Above is a steel five made on a workpiece that erroneously avoided galvanization.

Russian coinage metals

Silver. For the Russian kingdom it was the main coin metal. Even under Vladimir, Svyatopolk and Yaroslavl, silver coins were minted. After the coin-free period Russian kingdom regains the silver coin, known among collectors as the “scale.” Under Peter the Great, silver coins took on a round shape, approaching their European counterparts. The silver standard gradually decreases. High-grade silver (900 standard) under Nicholas II remains only in large denominations (25 and 50 kopecks, as well as the ruble). Two-kopeck, five-altyn, kopeck and nickel coins are minted from low-grade silver, called billon. They can only be called half silver. Currently, 999-grade silver is used to issue investment pieces (for example, “St. George the Victorious”). Sterling silver (925) are Russian coins for collectors.

Gold. The first gold money in Rus' appeared under Prince Vladimir. Ivan III minted the gold “Shipman” and began producing “Ugric”, which received their name from the Hungarian ducats that penetrated into Rus' from Western Europe. Rather, they were coin-shaped medals, awarded as a reward for exploits or diligence in service. They became a full-fledged means of payment under Peter the Great. For production, high-grade red gold is used, where the alloy is copper. This money is called chervonets. If the denomination in rubles is indicated on them, then this is a large amount: from two rubles and more. The last coin issued from gold for circulation purposes was the Soviet chervonets of 1923. Further, gold is used only for minting collectible or investment coins.

Copper. The first issues of copper money led to "copper" riots. Such a harsh attitude towards copper among the population was formed due to the inconvenience of its circulation (salaries were paid in copper money, and taxes were collected exclusively in silver) and a large number of unsecured coins. At some point, 170 rubles in copper were exchanged for only six rubles in silver. Since 1700, copper has firmly entered into circulation only by the strong-willed decision of Peter the Great. Under different rulers, the value of a coin foot (the number of rubles minted from a pound of copper) changed significantly.

Kolyvan copper with admixtures of gold and silver occupies a special place in the minting of Russian money. From December 1763 to June 1781, the Suzunsky Mint produced the Siberian coin from it, which was circulated only in Siberia. An exceptional phenomenon can be considered copper boards issued under Catherine I, following the example of similar Swedish banknotes. The last domestic copper coin is the USSR half-kopeck of 1928.

Platinum. Russian empire was the first to use platinum to issue circulating coins. Denominations of 3, 6 and 12 rubles were minted under Nicholas I. If products made of gold and silver were often destroyed in fires, then the fire resistance of platinum was a big plus in storing savings. However, after a sharp drop in metal prices, platinum coins began to be abandoned en masse in favor of gold coins, and minting was stopped. In the USSR and the Russian Federation, platinum coins were issued for collectors.

Palladium. There are no circulating Russian palladium coins, although the idea of ​​issuing palladium rubles Boris Gryzlov, who then held the position of Vice Speaker of the State Duma, spoke to the population in 2009. Collectible palladium coins have been minted by the State Bank of the USSR since 1988, but they were intended for sale to collectors. After the collapse of the USSR, the Bank of Russia continued to issue them for some time. The last palladium commemorative coins were issued in 1995.

Alloys for the production of coins in modern Russia

And finally, let’s look at the “walking coins”, that is, ordinary circulating coins of the 1997 model. 1 and 5 kopecks, not mass produced after 2014, have a steel base, clad cupronickel. It is a copper-nickel alloy that contains iron and manganese. It is sometimes called "white copper". For the first time, domestic circulating coins made of cupronickel appeared in 1931, when Soviet Union decided not to spend any more silver on the release of the walker. Five-ruble coins from 1997-2009 have cupronickel plating, the core of which consists of copper. Until 2017, the central insert of bimetallic tens was cupronickel. Commemorative coins worth 25 rubles are also minted from cupronickel.

Brass, otherwise called “Yellow Copper”, was used for minting denominations of 10 and 50 kopecks until 2006 inclusive. It is an alloy of copper and zinc. Since the end of 2014, these denominations have used brass as part of the galvanic coating of the steel base. In the period 1961-1991. It was from brass that the denominations of the lowest group from 1 to 5 kopecks were minted. Bimetallic coins of the Russian Federation had a brass ring until 2017. Later, the ring began to be made of steel coated with brass.

Connoisseurs of domestic coin metals should remember about red brass. This is one of the types of brass, where the copper content varies between 88-97%, and the share of zinc is a tenth of the total mass. Among the advantages of tombak is its high anti-corrosion properties. Therefore, they clad steel blanks for coins of 2009-2014 in denominations of 10 and 50 kopecks.

Aluminum bronze. This is a type of bronze, where the ligature is aluminum (from 5% to 11%). Beautiful golden-yellow and fairly light coins in 1926 replaced heavy copper on USSR denominations from 1 to 5 kopecks. Aluminum bronze was used on Russian coins in 1993. It was from this that 50 rubles were minted. By non-magnetic properties they can be separated from later releases (clad steel).

Nickel silver. Sometimes, instead of the classic name “new silver” (from German word Neusilber) it is called “nickel silver”. It is an alloy of copper and nickel with a silvery color. It was he who replaced cupronickel on Soviet coins as a result monetary reform 1961. Copper-nickel coins were minted in the first years of the independent Russian Federation. Nickel silver is indifferent to magnets, but if a little more nickel is added than required by technology, the coin sometimes begins to react to strong magnets. It was from nickel silver that the 1 and 2 ruble denominations of the period 1997-2009 were issued.

In conclusion, let us remember that it turns out that Russian money made from seal skin also existed. They were in circulation in Russian Alaska. The issuer was the Russian-American company, which exercised full power in this territory. Sealskin is unlikely to return as a blank for money in the 21st century. However, new technologies are on the way. Perhaps, in a few years, metals will give way to bright composite materials, from which PMR settlement signs are already made. Even in the era of universal cashless transactions, it is always nice to hold real coins in your hands.

Latest auction prices for coins in Russian rubles

Photo	Description of the coin	G	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC	Proof
	10 kopecks 1917 Sun Bitkin: R1 from 683 to 53,384 rubles.	-	700	683	3 331	6 091	5 668	7 611	53 384
	12 rubles 1830 St. Petersburg Bitkin: R3; Ilyin: 45 rubles from 1.43 million to 2.40 million rubles.	-	-	-	1.43 million	2.08 million	-	2.40 million	-
	6 rubles 1830 St. Petersburg Bitkin: R2; Ilyin: 25 rubles from 548,962 to 1.34 million rubles.	-	-	-	548 962	623 198	1.34 million	-	557 565
	3 rubles 1830 St. Petersburg Bitkin: R; Ilyin: 10 rubles from 76,609 to 141,243 rubles.	-	-	-	76 609	81 434	141 243	-	-
	half 1700 Bitkin: R1-R2 from 3,622 to 25,370 rubles.	-	-	5 400	3 622	25 370	-	-	-
	1 kopeck 1997 M from 15 to 110 rub.	-	-	15	-	110	-	62	-
	5 kopecks 1997 M from 102 to 147 rub.	-	-	-	-	102	147	124	-
	10 kopecks 1997 M from 47 to 675 rub.	-	-	-	47	-	-	675	-
	50 kopecks 1997 M about 308 rub.	-	-	-	-	-	-	308	-
	1 ruble 1997 MMD from 5 to 149 rub.	-	-	-	-	5	10	149	-
	2 rubles 1997 MMD from 169 to 346 rub.	-	-	-	169	-	-	346	-
	5 rubles 1997 MMD about 900 rub.	-	-	-	-	-	-	900	-
	10 rubles 2009 MMD from 200 to 378 rub.	-	-	-	-	378	200	-	-
	10 kopecks 1769 KM Siberian Siberian coin Petrov: 0.75 rubles from 3,070 to 102,059 rubles.	-	-	3 070	4 000	12 525	102 059	-	-
	50 rubles 1993 MMD non-magnetic non-magnetic from 6 to 280 rub.	-	-	-	6	157	-	280	-

In terms of coin circulation, Russia is no exception and, although the famous penny died out not so long ago due to its meager value, metal money exists in Russia, albeit in other denominations.

Coin traditions around the world are not much different. The only thing that changes is the design of the coins and their composition, or rather the alloy from which they are made.

Copper-based alloys have long been traditional throughout the world. There is nothing surprising in this, since initially, after the transition from minting money from precious metals, it was copper that reigned in the coinage. Copper money existed as a bargaining chip back in the days ancient Rome.

What are coins made of?

Modern Russian coins are not made of any single metal or alloy. Much depends on the year of manufacture and denomination.
Coins of one kopeck and five kopecks were made of steel and then coated with cupronickel, representing the so-called clad coins.
The bulk of ten and fifty kopeck coins issued before 2009 were made of a special copper-zinc alloy. But, starting in 2006, these coins began to be produced from steel clad with Tompak alloy, created on the basis of copper with zinc and other elements.

Coins of higher denominations, one and two rubles, were originally made from. This continued until 2009, but later they began to be minted in steel and plated with nickel.

Until 2009, five-ruble coins were minted from copper with a cupronickel silver coating. Only starting in 2009, the production of steel five-ruble coins coated with .

Since 2009, ten ruble coins have been minted from steel with brass plating.

Story

But the Russian industry has not always gravitated toward hardware. There was a period when quite difficult to produce, but spectacular bimetallic coins were minted en masse. So, in 1991, a ten-ruble coin was minted, in which the inner part was made of copper-zinc alloy, and the outer part was made of cupronickel.

After the minting of this coin was discontinued in 1992, bimetallic coins in denominations of fifty and one hundred rubles were released into mass circulation.

Currently, in addition to mass-produced coins, collectible, gift, and coins are periodically minted. They use gold, silver, the same bimetal, with the only difference being that modern commemorative coins have a ring made of copper-zinc alloy and a core made of cupronickel.