Soviet ruble

Soviet ruble
советский рубль (in Russian)
Obverse of 1 ruble banknote (1961)1 ruble coin (1988)
ISO 4217
Code SUR
Denominations
Subunit
1/100 kopek (копейка)
Plural rubli (nom. pl.), rubley (gen. pl.)
kopek (копейка) kopeyki (nom. pl.), kopeyek (gen. pl.)
Symbol руб
kopek (копейка) к
Banknotes 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 rubles
Coins 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50 kopeks, 1, 3, 5, 10 rubles
Demographics
User(s)  Soviet Union
Issuance
Central bank State Bank of the Soviet Union
Printer Goznak
Mint Leningrad 1921-1991 (temporarily moved to Krasnokamsk 1941-1946), Moscow 1982-1991
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

The Soviet ruble (Russian: рубль; see below for other languages of the USSR) was the currency of the Soviet Union. One ruble was divided into 100 kopeks, (also transliterated as kopecks or copecks Russian: копе́йка, pl. копе́йкиkopeyka, kopeyki).

Many of the ruble designs were created by Ivan Dubasov. The production of Soviet rubles was the responsibility of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise, or Goznak, which was in charge of the printing of and materials production for banknotes and the minting of coins in Moscow and Leningrad.

In addition to regular currency, some other currency units were used, such as several forms of convertible ruble (Russian: инвалютный рубль): transferable ruble, clearing ruble, Vneshtorgbank cheque, etc.; also, several forms of virtual rubles (called "non-cash ruble" or "cachless ruble": "Безналичный рубль" beznalichny rubl) were used for inter-enterprise accounting and international settlement in the Comecon zone.[1]

In 1991, after the breakup of the Soviet Union, the Soviet ruble continued to be used in the post-Soviet states, forming a "ruble zone", until it was replaced with the Russian ruble by 1993.

Etymology

The word "ruble" is derived from the Slavic verb рубить, rubit', i.e., to chop. Historically, "ruble" was a piece of a certain weight chopped off a silver ingot (grivna), hence the name. The word kopek, kopeck, copeck, or kopeyka (in Russian: копейка, kopeyka) is a diminutive form of the Russian kop'yo (копьё) — a spear.

Ruble in the Soviet Union

The Soviet currency had its own name in all Soviet languages, sometimes quite different from its Russian designation. All banknotes had the currency name and their nominal printed in the languages of every Soviet Republic. This naming is preserved in modern Russia; for example: Tatar for ruble and kopek are sum and tien. The current names of several currencies of Central Asia are simply the local names of the ruble. Finnish last appeared on 1947 banknotes since the Karelo-Finnish SSR was dissolved in 1956.

The name of the currency in the languages of the 15 republics, in the order they appeared in the banknotes:

Language In local language IPA Transcription
ruble kopek ruble kopek
Russian рубль копейка [ˈrʉblʲ] [kɐˈpʲej.kə]
Ukrainian карбованець копійка [kɑr.boˈβɑn.ɛt͡sʲ] [koˈpij.kɑ]
Belarusian рубель капейка [ˈru.bɛlʲ] [kaˈpɛj.ka]
Uzbek сўм тийин [ˈsɵm] [ti.jin]
Kazakh сом тиын [ˈsu̯ʊm] [ti.ən]
Georgian მანეთი კაპიკი [mɑ.nɛ.tʰi] [kʼɑpʼik'i]
Azerbaijani манат гәпик [mɑ.nɑt] [gæ.pɪk]
Lithuanian rublis kapeika [ˈrʊ.bɫɪs] [kɐˈpɛɪ̯ˑ.kɐ]
Finnish rupla kopeekka [ˈruplɑ] [ko.peːkːɑ]
Romanian (Moldovan until 1989) рублэ/rublă копейкэ/copeică [ˈru.blə] [koˈpej.kə]
Latvian rublis kapeika [ˈru.blis] [kaˈpɛi.ka]
Kyrgyz сом тыйын [ˈsom] [ˈtɯ.jɯn]
Tajik сӯм тин [ˈsŭm] [ˈtin]
Armenian ռուբլի կոպեկ [ˈrubli] [ˈko.pɛk]
Turkmen манат көпүк [ma.nat] [kø.pyk]
Estonian rubla kopikas [ˈrublɑ] [kopiˈkɑs]

Note that the scripts for Uzbek, Azerbaijani, and Turkmen have switched from Cyrillic to Latin since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Moldovan has switched to Latin and is once again referred to as Romanian.

Historical Soviet rubles

First Soviet ruble

The first ruble issued for the Socialist government was a preliminary issue still based on the previous issue of the ruble prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917. They are all in banknote form and started their issue in 1919. At this time other issues were made by the white Russian government and other governing bodies. Denominations are as follows: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 60, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 25,000, 50,000, 100,000. Short term treasury certificate were also issued to supplement banknote issue in 1 million, 5 million, 10 million rubles. These issue was printed in various fashions, as inflation crept up the security features were few and some were printed on one side, as was the case for the German inflationary notes.

Banknotes

In 1918, state credit notes were introduced by the R.S.F.S.R. for 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 rubles. These were followed in 1919 by currency notes for 1, 2, 3, 15, 20, 60, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10,000 rubles. In 1921, currency note denominations of 5, 50, 25,000, 50,000, 100,000, 1,000,000, 5,000,000 and 10,000,000 rubles were added.

Second Soviet ruble, January 1 – December 31, 1922

Silver ruble of 1922

In 1922, the first of several redenominations took place, at a rate of 1 "new" ruble for 10,000 "old" rubles. The chervonets (червонец) was also introduced in 1922. This currency was short-lived, lasting only a full year.

Banknotes

Only state currency notes were issued for this currency, in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 rubles.

Third Soviet ruble, January 1, 1923 – March 6, 1924

A second redenomination took place in 1923, at a rate of 100 to 1. Again, only paper money was issued. During the lifetime of this currency, the first money of the Soviet Union was issued. This currency was short lived, not lasting too long after Vladimir Lenin's death, but lasting over two months longer than its predecessor.

Coins

1924 poltinnik (½ ruble).

The first coinage after the Russian civil war was minted in 1921-1923 with silver coins in denominations of 10, 15, 20 and 50 kopecks and 1 ruble. Gold chervonets were issued in 1923. These coins bore the emblem and legends of the RSFSR (Russian Federated Soviet Socialist Republic) and depicted the famous slogan, "Workers of the world, Unite!". The 10, 15, and 20 kopecks were minted with a purity of 50% silver while the ruble and half ruble were minted with a purity of 90% silver. The chervonetz was 90% gold. These coins would continue to circulate after the RSFSR was consolidated into the USSR with other soviet republics until the discontinuation of silver coinage in 1931.

Banknotes

As with the previous currency, only state currency notes were issued, in denominations of 50 kopeks, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 rubles. In early 1924, just before the next redenomination, the first paper money was issued in the name of the USSR, featuring the state emblem with 6 bands around the wheat, representing the languages of the then 4 constituent republics of the Union: Russian SFSR, Transcaucasian SFSR (Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Georgian), Ukrainian SSR and Byelorussian SSR. They were dated 1923 and were in denominations of 10,000, 15,000, and 25,000 rubles.

Fourth (Gold) Soviet ruble, March 7, 1924 – 1947

After Joseph Stalin's consolidation of power following the death of Lenin, he launched a third redenomination in 1924 by introducing the "gold" ruble at a value of 50,000 rubles of the previous issue. This reform also saw the ruble linked to the chervonets, at a value of 10 rubles and put an end to chronic inflation. Coins began to be issued again in 1924, while paper money was issued in rubles for values below 10 rubles and in chervonets for higher denominations.

Coins

In 1924, copper coins were introduced for 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks, together with new silver 10, 15 and 20 kopecks, 1 poltinnik (50 kopecks) and 1 ruble. From this issue onward, the coins were minted in the name of the USSR (Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics). The "Workers of the World" slogan was carried forward. However, 1921-1923 coins were allowed to continue circulating. Copper ½ kopeck coins were also introduced in 1925. The copper coins were minted in two types; plain edge and reeded edge, with the plain edged types being the fewest in number. The silver coins once again had the same silver purity as the previous issues. The 1 ruble was only issued in 1924 and production of the poltinnik was stopped in 1927, while the ½ kopeck ceased to be minted in 1928. Coins of this period were issued in the same sizes as the coins previously used during the Czarist period. In 1926, smaller, aluminium-bronze coins were minted to replace the large copper 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks, but were not released until 1928. The larger coins were then melted down.

A shortage of silver coins had perpetually dogged the Soviet economy in the 1920s and silver was becoming too expensive to use, with much of it needing to be imported. By 1930 the silver coin shortage had become acute and the authorities scapegoated "hoarders" and "exchange speculators" as responsible for the shortages, and confiscatory measures were taken. In 1931, the remaining silver coins were replaced with redesigned cupro-nickel coins depicting a male worker holding up a shield which contained the denominations of each. All silver coins were returned and melted down. In 1935, the reverse of the 10, 15, and 20 kopecks was redesigned again with a more simple Art Deco inspired design, with the obverse of all denominations also redesigned, having the slogan "Workers of the world, unite!" dropped. The change of obverse did not affect all 1, 2, 3, and 5 kopeck coins immediately, as some 1935 issues bore the "Workers of the World" design while some bore the new "CCCP" design. The state emblem also went through a series of changes between 1935 and 1957 as new soviet republics were added or created, this can be noted by the number of "ribbons" wrapped around the wheat sheaves. This coin series remained in circulation during and after the monetary reform of 1947 and was finally discontinued in 1961.

In August 1941, the wartime emergency prompted the minting facilities to be evacuated from the Neva district in Moscow and relocated to Permskaya Oblast as German forces continued to advance Eastward. It only became possible to resume coin production in the autumn of 1942, for one year the country was using coins made before the war. Furthermore, the coins were made of what had suddenly become precious metals – copper and nickel, which were needed for the defense industry. This meant many coins were being produced in only limited quantities, with some denominations being skipped altogether until the crisis finally abated in late 1944. These disruptions led to severe coin shortages in many regions. Limits were put in place on how much change could be carried in coins with limits of 3 rubles for individuals and 10 rubles for vendors to prevent hoarding as coins became increasingly high in demand. Only high inflation and wartime rationing helped ease pressure significantly. In some instances, postage stamps and coupons were being used in the place of small denomination coins. It was not until 1947 that there were finally enough coins in circulation to meet economic demand and the restrictions could be eased.

Banknotes

In 1924, state currency notes were introduced for 1, 3 and 5 gold rubles (рубль золотом). These circulated alongside the chervonets notes introduced in 1922 by the State Bank in denominations of 1, 3, 5 10 and 25 chervonets. State Treasury notes replaced the state currency notes after 1928. In 1938, new notes were issued for 1, 3 and 5 rubles, dropping the word "gold".

1938 Series
Image Denomination Obverse Reverse
1 RubleMiner
3 Rubles Soldiers
5 Rubles Pilot
1 Chervonets Lenin
3 Chervonets Lenin
5 Chervonets Lenin
10 Chervonets Lenin

Fifth Soviet ruble, 1947–1961

Following World War II, the Soviet government implemented a confiscatory redenomination of the currency (decreed on December 14, 1947) to reduce the amount of money in circulation. The main purpose of this change was to prevent peasants who had accumulated cash by selling food at wartime prices from using this to buy consumer goods as the postwar recovery took hold.[2] Old rubles were revalued at one tenth of their face value. This mainly affected paper money in the hands of private individuals. Amounts of 3,000 rubles or less in individual bank accounts were not revalued, while salaries remained the same. This revaluation coincided with the end of wartime rationing and efforts to lower prices and curtail inflation, though the effects in some cases actually resulted in higher inflation. Unlike other reforms, this one did not affect coins.

Banknotes

In 1947, State Treasury notes were introduced for 1, 3 and 5 rubles, along with State Bank notes for 10, 25, 50 and 100 rubles. The State Bank notes depicted Lenin while the Treasury notes depicted floral artistic designs. All denominations were colored and patterned in a similar fashion to late Czarist notes.

1947 Series
Image Denomination Obverse Reverse
1 RubleState Emblem of the Soviet Union
3 Rubles State Emblem of the Soviet Union
5 Rubles State Emblem of the Soviet Union
10 Rubles Vladimir Lenin
25 Rubles Vladimir Lenin
50 Rubles Vladimir Lenin
100 Rubles Vladimir Lenin Moscow Kremlin

Sixth Soviet ruble, 1961–91

50 kopek type issued 1961-1991.
Two 10 ruble coins introduced in 1978 to commemorate the 1980 Summer Olympics

The 1961 redenomination was a repeat of the 1947 reform, with the same terms applying. The Soviet ruble of 1961 was formally equal to 0.987412 gram of gold, but the exchange for gold was never available to the general public. This ruble maintained a constant exchange rate at 40 Kopeks per Pound Sterling until 1992 when the ruble became the new currency of the Russian Federation.

Coins

The 1958 pattern series: By 1958, plans for a monetary reform were underway and a number of coin pattern designs were being experimented with before implementation. The most notable of these was the 1958 series, in denominations of 1, 2, 3, and 5 kopecks in copper-zinc, and 10, 15, 20, and 50 kopecks and 1, 3, and 5 rubles in copper nickel. These coins all had the same basic design and became the most likely for release. Indeed, they were mass-produced before the plan was scrapped and a majority of them were melted down. During this time, 1957 coins would continue to be restruck off old dies until the new coin series was officially released in 1961. This series is considered the most valuable of Soviet issues due to their scarcity.

1961 style one ruble coin

On January 1, 1961 the currency was revalued again at a rate of 10:1, but this time a new coinage was introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks in aluminium-bronze, and 10, 15, 20 and 50 kopecks and 1 ruble in cupro-nickel-zinc. Like previous issues, the front featured the state arms and title while the back depicted date and denomination. The 50 kopeck and 1 ruble coins dated 1961 had plain edges, but starting in 1964, the edges were lettered with the denomination and date. All 1926-1957 coins were then withdrawn from circulation and demonetized, with the majority melted down.

Commemorative coins of the Soviet Union: In 1965, the first circulation commemorative ruble coin was released celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany, during this year the first uncirculated mint coin sets were also released and restrictions on coin collecting were eased. In 1967, a commemorative series of 10, 15, 20, 50 kopecks, and 1 ruble coins was released, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Russian Revolution and depicted Lenin and various socialist achievements. The smaller bronze denominations for that year remained unchanged. Many different circulation commemorative 1 ruble coins were also released, as well as a handful of 3 and 5 rubles over the years. Commemorative coins from this period were always slightly larger than general issues, 50 kopecks and 1 ruble coins in particular were larger, while the 1967 series of the small denominations were the same circumference but thicker than general issues. Initially, commemorative rubles were struck in the same alloy as other circulating coins until 1975, when the metallurgic composition was changed to a higher quality copper-nickel alloy that excluded zinc in the composition.

Starting in 1991 with the final year of the 1961 coin series, both kopeck and ruble coins began depicting the mint marks (M) for Moscow, and (Л) for Leningrad.

Banknotes

Banknotes were issued in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 rubles, with similar colors to the previous series, but this time much smaller in size. The notes again depicted Lenin on the higher denominations and various buildings in Moscow.

1961 Series
Image Value
Obverse Reverse
1 Ruble
3 Rubles
5 Rubles
10 Rubles
25 Rubles
50 Rubles
100 Rubles

Seventh Soviet ruble, 1991 – 1992

The Monetary Reform of 1991, was carried out by Mikhail Gorbachev and was known also as the Pavlov Reform. It was the last of such in the Soviet Union and began on January 22, 1991. Its architect was Minister of Finance Valentin Pavlov, who also became the last prime minister of the Soviet Union. Once again the exchange rate was 10:1, and like those of 1924 and 1947 had confiscatory attributes. The details of the exchange included a brief period to exchange old rubles for new – for three days from 23 to 25 January (Wednesday to Friday) and with a specific limit of no more than 1,000 rubles per person − the ability to exchange other bills considered in the special commissions to the end of March 1991.

Coins

In late 1991, a new coinage was introduced in denominations of 10 and 50 kopeks, 1, 5 and 10 rubles. The 10 kopecks was struck in brass-plated steel, the 50 kopecks, 1 and 5 rubles were in cupro-nickel and the 10 rubles was bimetallic with an aluminium-bronze centre and a cupro-nickel-zinc ring. The series depicts an image of the Kremlin on the obverse rather than the soviet state emblem. However, this coin series was extremely short lived as the Soviet Union ceased to exist only months after its release. It did however, continue to be used in several former soviet republics including Russia and particularly Tajikistan for a short time after the union had ceased to exist out of necessity.

Banknotes

Banknotes for this ruble were nearly identical in background color and size for all denominations compared to the 1961 series, but included more color and heightened security features. This time however, new 200, 500, and 1000 rubles were introduced along with 1, 3, 5, 10, 50, and 100 rubles.

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, many newly independent republics chose to continue circulating soviet rubles until the introduction of the new Russian ruble in 1992.

1991 Series
Image Value
Obverse Reverse
1 Ruble
3 Rubles
5 Rubles
10 Rubles
50 Rubles
100 Rubles
200 Rubles
500 Rubles
1000 Rubles

Historical official exchange rates

Official exchange rates SUR/USD (Soviet ruble per United States dollar):[3]

Date SUR per USD USD per SUR
1924-01-01 2.2000 $0.4545
1924-04-01 1.9405 $0.5153
1927-01-01 1.9450 $0.5141
1928-02-01 1.9434 $0.5145
1933-04-01 1.9434 $0.5145
1933-05-01 1.7474 $0.5722
1934-01-01 1.2434 $0.8042
1935-01-01 1.1509 $0.8689
1936-01-01 1.1516 $0.8684
1937-01-01 5.0400 $0.1984
1937-07-19 5.3000 $0.1887
1950-02-01 5.3000 $0.1887
1950-03-01 4.0000 $0.2500
1960-12-01 4.0000 $0.2500
1961-01-01 0.9000 $1.1111
1971-12-01 0.9000 $1.1111
1972-01-01 0.8290 $1.2063
1973-01-01 0.8260 $1.2107
1974-01-01 0.7536 $1.3270
1975-01-01 0.7300 $1.3699
1976-01-01 0.7580
1977-01-01 0.7420
1978-01-01 0.7060
1979-01-01 0.6590
1980-01-03 0.6395
1981-01-01 0.6750
1982-01-01 0.7080
1983-01-13 0.7070
1984-01-01 0.7910
1985-02-28 0.9200
1986-01-01 0.7585
1987-01-01 0.6700
1988-01-06 0.5804
1989-01-04 0.6059
1990-01-03 0.6072
1991-01-02 0.5605
1991-02-13 0.5450
1992-01-01 0.5549

Replacement currencies in the former Soviet republics

Shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, local currencies were introduced in the newly independent states. Most of the new economies were weak and hence most of the currencies have undergone significant reforms since their introduction. In the very beginning of the post-Soviet economic transition, it was widely believed by ordinary people and monetary institutions (including the International Monetary Fund) that it was possible to maintain a common currency working for all or at least for some of the former Soviet Union’s countries. The wish to preserve the strong trade relations between former Soviet republics was considered the most important goal.

During the first half of 1992, a monetary union with 15 independent states all using the ruble existed. Since it was clear that the situation would not last, each of them was using its position as "free-riders" to issue huge amounts of money in the form of credit (since Russia held the monopoly on printing banknotes and coins). As a result, some countries were issuing coupons in order to "protect" their markets from buyers from other states. The Russian central bank responded in July 1992 by setting up restrictions to the flow of credit between Russia and other states. The final collapse of the "ruble zone" began with the exchange of banknotes by the Central Bank of Russia on Russian territory at the end of July 1993. As a result, other countries still in the ruble zone (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Armenia and Georgia) were "pushed out". By November 1993 all newly independent states had introduced their own currencies, with the exception of war-torn Tajikistan (May 1995) and unrecognized Transnistria (1994).

Details on the introduction of new currencies in the newly independent states are discussed below.

Post Soviet
Country
First national currency (with new code)
replacing the "Soviet ruble" (SUR)
Conversion rate
from SUR
Date introduction new currency Date leaving
the "ruble zone"[4]
Future revaluation or currency replacement
date, New replaced currency
and rate[5]
 Armenia Armenian dram
(AMD)
200 SUR
= 1 AMD
22 November 1993 November 1993 -
 Azerbaijan Azerbaijani manat
(AZM)
10 SUR
= 1 AZM
15 August 1992 August 1993 1 January 2006:
Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
5 000 AZM = 1 AZN
 Belarus Belarusian ruble
(BYL)
10 SUR
= 1 BYL
25 May 1992 26 July 1993 20 August 1994:
Belarusian ruble (BYB)
10 BYL = 1 BYB

2000:
Belarusian ruble
(BYR)
1 000 BYB = 1 BYR

2016:
Belarusian ruble (BYN)
10 000 BYR = 1 BYN
 Estonia Estonian kroon
(EEK)
10 SUR
= 1 EEK
20 June 1992 22 June 1992 1 January 2011:
Euro (EUR)
15.6466 EEK = 1 EUR
 Georgia Georgian kupon
(GEK)
1 SUR
= 1 GEK
3 April 1993 20 August 1993 20 October 1995:
Georgian lari (GEL)
1 000 000 GEK = 1 GEL
 Kazakhstan Kazakhstani tenge
(KZT)
500 SUR
= 1 KZT
15 November 1993 November 1993 -
 Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstani som
(KGS)
200 SUR
= 1 KGS
10 May 1993 15 May 1993 -
 Latvia Latvian rublis
(LVR)
1 SUR
= 1 LVR
7 May 1992 20 July 1992 5 March 1993:
Latvian lats (LVL)
200 LVR = 1 LVL

1 January 2014:
Euro (EUR)
0.702804 LVL = 1 EUR
 Lithuania Lithuanian talonas
(LTT)
10 SUR
= 1 LTT
1 May 1992 1 October 1992 26 June 1993:
Lithuanian litas (LTL)
100 LTT = 1 LTL

1 January 2015:
Euro (EUR)
3.4528 LTL = 1 EUR
 Moldova Moldovan cupon
(MDC)
1 SUR
= 1 MDC
10 June 1992 July 1993 29 November 1993:
Moldovan leu (MDL)
1000 MDC = 1 MDL
 Russia Russian ruble
(RUR)
1 SUR
= 1 RUR
14 July 1992 August 1993 01 January 1998:
Russian ruble (RUB)
1000 RUR = 1 RUB
 Tajikistan Tajikistani ruble
(TJR)
100 SUR
= 1 TJR
10 May 1995 January 1994 30 October 2000:
Tajikistani somoni (TJS)
1000 TJR = 1 TJS
 Turkmenistan Turkmenistan manat
(TMM)
500 SUR
= 1 TMM
1 November 1993 November 1993 01 January 2009:
Turkmenistan manat (TMT)
5000 TMM = 1 TMT
 Ukraine Ukrainian karbovanets
(UAK)
1 SUR
= 1 UAK
12 January 1992 November 1992 02 September 1996:
Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH)
100 000 UAK = 1 UAH
 Uzbekistan Uzbekistani so'm
(UZC)
1 SUR
= 1 UZC
15 November 1993 15 November 1993 01 July 1994:
Uzbekistani so'm (UZS)
1000 UZC = 1 UZS

See also

Footnotes



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