What can I buy for 1 ruble? Nothing. But its cost may amount to several million rubles. The value of old money does not depend on the amount of gold and silver contained in it, but on safety, on the number of circulation, the less, the more expensive, the events associated with their release. Numismatists divide coins by epoch. The most expensive coins of Tsarist Russia were issued between 1700 and 1917. Coins were mostly the most valuable; they were made in a small edition not for everyday use, but for the anniversary dates, for the coronation of new monarchs.
10. 1 kopek of 1726 | cost up to 2 million rubles
1 kopeck of 1726 appreciated for its rarity. Today, only 10 surviving specimens are known. During the reign of Catherine I, they were retired and remelted. 1 kopeck is one of the last coins minted in the shape of a square. The increase in money supply by minting coins from cheap Ural copper was caused by the difficult economic situation in the country. This was the reason for the appearance of a square penny. Due to its unusual form for money, its value reaches 2 million rubles.
9.1 ruble in 1705 | the cost of 2.7 million rubles
1 ruble of 1705 - the result of the monetary reform of Peter I opens the rating of the most expensive coins of tsarist Russia. To mint monetary denominations of their silver in Russia was not enough. Polish tylers were bought from which new money was minted, or sometimes without re-melting, they immediately went under the press. 1 ruble is just such a coin. Its value lies in the fact that the date on the stamp was incorrectly indicated. Due to this error, the price of such an instance is very high. At the auction in October 2015. It was sold for 2.7 million rubles, at a time when the price of other such rubles did not exceed 400 thousand rubles.
8.2 pennies of 1740 | the cost of 3.6 million rubles
2 kopeks of 1740 refer to trial coins. During the reign of Anna Ioannovna, there was a large amount of copper money issued under Peter I and Catherine I. The nominal value of nickels far exceeded the value of the metal from which they were made, so the amount of counterfeit money was very large. It was decided to withdraw them from circulation and to melt into kopecks. The empress was presented with trial coins with her image. It was the first copper money on which was a portrait of the ruler of the country. But the release due to the death of Anna Ioannovna in 1740 did not take place. Only six copies are known, which occasionally appear at auctions, striking at their price. So in 2014, such a coin was sold for 3.6 million rubles, in the best quality 2 kopecks went for 5.6 million rubles. at the 2012 auction
7. 12 rubles in 1836 | the cost of 4.65 million rubles
12 rubles 1836 - This is an isolated case in world practice when platinum money was issued for everyday circulation. Quite large quantities of 3 and 6 ruble coins were issued, and 12 rubles were issued in the amount of 11 pcs. Due to its rarity, platinum 12 rubles are among the most expensive coins. In November 2011, one copy was sold for 4.65 million rubles.
6. 5 rubles in 1907 | the cost of 4, 79 million rubles
5 rubles in 1907 were released in a circulation of 109 pcs. from gold of 900 tests and weighing 4 g. Money was not issued for circulation. This was a special order - 100 coins were to be laid in the foundation of the church, which was built near St. Petersburg on the territory of the Horse Regiment by the day of the 11th anniversary of Princess Olga and the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Friedland. In this battle, the Horse Regiment suffered heavy losses. The entire royal family attended the laying ceremony. But 9 more coins were minted, which were distributed as memorable gifts to those present. They appear at auctions. The last sale in November 2014 recorded a value of 4.79 million rubles.
5. 37.5 rubles in 1902 | the cost of 7.4 million rubles
37.5 rubles 1902 g. or "100 francs" were issued in a circulation of 235 copies of 900 gold. 200 pcs. were handed over to the empress. On especially solemn days, she gave them out as gifts. As the numismatists suggest, 37.5 rubles were made for use outside Russia and possibly for casino games. The official version is the issue of “100 francs”, which in the face value of Russian money is 37.50 rubles. This is a commemoration of the Russian-French union concluded in 1902. In 1904, another copy was issued for the Hermitage. The coin is very valuable, so there are a lot of remodels coated with gold. The price of it is growing year by year. If in 2009 the coin was sold for 3.9 million rubles, then in February 2015 for a record 7.4 million rubles.
4. 25 rubles in 1908 | the cost of 9.3 million rubles
25 rubles in 1908 were released on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of Nicholas II. Coins were made from a monolithic 5 kg gold nugget. It was enough for 150 copies, another 25 were released already in 1910. The monarch used them as a sign of attention, giving his subjects who distinguished themselves in the service of the fatherland. Despite the fact that 25 rubles were an exact copy of the same money issued for the coronation of the king in 1896, they already acquired their value in the year of issue. Such “gift” coins were not in circulation and therefore were very well preserved. Every year at auctions on them there is an increase in prices. So in November 2015, a price of 9.3 million rubles was recorded.
3. 1 ruble of 1825 | the cost of 22 million rubles
1 ruble of 1825 or the Konstantinovsky ruble is one of the most valuable and rare coins of the Romanov period. In 2004, the coin was sold for 550 thousand dollars (22 million rubles). A total of 6 copies are known, according to other sources about 5: two are in Russia, one in the United States, three in private collections. This denomination is interesting in that it depicts a nonexistent emperor. When the monarch changed, the mint for the coronation issued coins with the new emperor. After the death of a childless Alexander I, it was assumed that his brother Konstantin Pavlovich would take the throne. But few knew that the prince had previously abdicated the throne. Ahead of events and not knowing about the abdication, the Minister of Finance ordered the release of trial silver money with the image of Konstantin - the Russian emperor and autocrat. But Nicholas I was proclaimed king, and this mistake was quickly decided to hush up. Coins were classified. The Konstantinovsky ruble is a very rare lot at auctions and its appearance always causes a stir. The most valuable and expensive coins are most often counterfeited.
2. 1 ruble of 1730 | the cost of 15.6 million rubles
1 ruble of 1730 was released as a trial copy, the circulation of which has not been established for certain. Today, three such rubles are known. One is stored in the Hermitage, the second in the US National Collection, the third in the hands of a private individual who purchased it at an auction in 2007 for 626 thousand dollars (or 15.6 million rubles). Among the numismatists, the ruble was called “Anna with a chain”, since the obverse adorns the portrait of Anna Ioannovna, and on the other hand an eagle surrounded by a chain of St. Andrew the First-Called. The chain, as one of the attributes of the royal regalia during the coronation, was introduced specifically by Anna Ioannovna.
1. 20 rubles in 1755 | the cost of 77 million rubles
20 rubles in 1755 remains the most expensive coin of Tsarist Russia. At an auction in England in 2008, it was purchased in a private collection for 1.5 million pounds. At that time, the current rate was 77 million rubles. The second coin is kept in the Hermitage. It was a trial coin of 917 gold weighing 33 grams. On the obverse was an image of Empress Elizabeth. This is the first Russian coin on which the inscription "gold" appeared. Among collectors, she received the name "Elizabethan Golden." In total, two copies are known, since the further issue of gold was not approved.