Numismatics is full of paradoxes. Often, the amounts offered for a particular coin exceed tens or even hundreds of times the face value indicated on it. This is not surprising, because copies that are extremely rare are considered the most valuable, and a serious collector will not spare money for them. It is known, for example, that the most expensive coins of the USSR and Russia were produced in small runs, and these days are a rarity, and, therefore, are of considerable value.
Evaluation criteria for collection material
Before you start a conversation about what are the most expensive coins of the USSR or Russia, you need to understand the main components that make up their price. Basically, these are three main indicators: the degree of preservation of a particular specimen, the material from which it is made, and how rare it is. Undoubtedly, the authenticity of the coin in question should be added here, since counterfeiters at all times threw their products to the market, and no one is safe from the troubles they create.
No matter how surprising it may seem, the material from which the coin is made often plays a secondary role, giving way to the level of its preservation and, more importantly, to rarity. There are many cases where the market price of copper samples significantly exceeded the value of gold. Any experienced collector knows many examples.
Rare, meaning valuable
An important role is also played by the state of the proposed specimen. Depending on the degree of preservation, the price of the same coin may be different. Nevertheless, it should be recognized that the main factor is how rare and old it is. In the framework of this article, we will consider what are currently the rarest and most expensive coins of the USSR and Russia. Very often in our homes for years there are coins left over from the Soviet period, and today have no circulation. Who knows, maybe among them valuable specimens will happen by chance?
Collector Value Mistake
Today, the most expensive coin of the USSR, the photo of which is presented at the beginning of the article, is five kopecks, issued in 1947. Strange as it may seem, up to 200,000 rubles are offered at auctions for this plain-looking copper coin. This coin has an unusual story. The fact is that an error crept into the image of the coat of arms on its reverse, completely unacceptable according to the concepts of Soviet ideology.
After the war, when this coin was issued, the Soviet republics became sixteen, and the ribbons encircling the ears and symbolizing the fraternal republics were depicted in the old way - fifteen. If now this may seem like a simple mistake, then in those years such things were regarded as ideological sabotage. Coins already issued were urgently withdrawn from circulation, and their further production was discontinued. As a result, today these are the most expensive coins of the USSR, as they are very rare.
Dimes and dvushka at the price of a mink coat
In second place is such a rarity as ten kopecks, released in 1931. Silver of 500 tests went into production. Today it is not the most expensive coin of the USSR, but the fact is that its price (100,000 rubles) may increase. There is reason to believe that the circulation of the coin indicated in the catalogs is somewhat overstated. If this is confirmed, then, accordingly, the cost will increase.
It will be a great success to find a two-copeck coin, issued in 1927.In the ranking of “most expensive coins of the USSR”, it takes third place, and at an auction it costs about 80,000 rubles. Such a high price is due, firstly, to the small circulation of the issue, and secondly, to the very small number of surviving copies. By the way, we note that in all cases the cost of a particular collection material is rather arbitrary, since it is impossible to predict the number of copies that will be put up for sale.
Other rarities close to them in price
The fourth position is taken by the five-copeck coin of 1958. You should not be surprised at its high cost, since they were released no more than 200-300 pieces. As a rule, at the auction, its starting price is approximately 70,000 rubles, but subject to the good condition of the proposed specimen and a significant number of bidders, the cost can increase significantly, and in this case it will supplant the two-copeck coin of 1927 in the “Most Expensive USSR Coin” rating.
In 1958, a small trial batch of coins in denominations of two rubles was issued. For a number of reasons, their further production was considered unreasonable, and all copies that were in circulation by that time were withdrawn from circulation. As a result, this coin became a collection rarity and ranks fifth among the rarest and most expensive coins of the Soviet period. At recent auctions, its cost ranged from 70,000 to 80,000 rubles.
We examined five coins that are currently recognized as the most expensive coins of the USSR. It is easy to notice that with a wide margin from the general group there is only a patch released in 1947, it occupies the first position with a price of 200,000 rubles. The remaining four coins, although they differ in value, are insignificant, and at any time they can change their position in the table, due to fluctuations in market demand. In addition, any auction is unpredictable, including numismatic, so the rating position “The most expensive coin of the USSR” can change.
Commemorative Soviet coins
If we talk about what are the most expensive commemorative coins of the USSR, then we should start with the memorable ruble of 1965. He was released in commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the victory over fascism. Now, after half a century, the coin has become a rarity, and its price, subject to a good quality copy, can reach up to 10,000 rubles.
A commemorative ruble issued in 1977 in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the revolution also belongs to similar rarities. In 1980, the Olympics in Moscow was marked by the appearance of ruble denomination coins with the corresponding symbols and images of the Moscow University building in circulation. They, too, have become rare today and are highly valued in the market.
Numismatic rarities of our days
However, it was still about coins of the USSR. Now let's see the price rating of collection materials of the post-Soviet period. As noted above, numismatics is full of paradoxes. So among the coins currently in circulation, there are those of interest to collectors, and, accordingly, having a value higher than the nominal. So it will not be superfluous to pay attention not only to the dignity of coins in your wallets, but also to the year of their issue. It is possible that, without knowing it yourself, you are the owners of very significant values.
Unique coin of 1999
The value of modern copies is determined almost exclusively by their circulation, since in this case it is hardly appropriate to speak about the safety or material of manufacture. The amazing five-ruble coin of 1999 opens the rating table. There were a lot of them, but among others there is one single coin, in which the number "5" is rounded in the upper left corner, and the image of the leaf of the plant is in contact with the edging. In other samples there is no such difference, but it is impossible to assume that it was released in a single copy, therefore there should be its analogues.Today, this five-ruble as a result of its uniqueness is at the auction a record amount - 250 000 rubles. So, at a price it surpasses even the one that is recognized today as “the most expensive coin of the USSR”.
Rarities of 2001 and 2003
In second place is a coin that was issued, but was not officially put into circulation. This is 50 kopecks in 2001. It is difficult to name its market assessment, but there is no doubt that this is one of the rarest, and therefore expensive, samples among those that were released in the post-Soviet era. Among collectors it is known that some of them are still in circulation, so the interest in them is very great. The price of such a coin is approximately 35-40 thousand rubles.
The ruble coin of the same year of issue is somewhat cheaper. She takes third place in the ranking. As in the previous case, after its manufacture only a small part of the specimens saw the light. In this regard, the 2001 ruble coin in the market today is estimated at 25-30 thousand rubles, which, you see, is also a lot.
In a very small edition, a ruble coin was also issued in 2003. This allows her to take fourth place in our table. Among numismatists, an increased interest is shown in it, which is the reason for its rather high cost - about 10,000 rubles. It may well be that such a coin will be in your hands, but you should not flatter yourself - the circulation was unusually small, and the chances of finding it are small.
A couple of simple and reasonable tips
We conclude our review of post-Soviet numismatic rarities with the following advice: if you find yourself the happy owners of the coins discussed above, do not rush to sell them. The fact is that such collection material practically does not become cheaper, but only increases in price. If possible, it is better to hold the coins, and eventually sell them at a better price.
And on another important issue I want to focus. This is the problem of counterfeiting the most expensive coins. It is known that counterfeiters sometimes manage to achieve such high professionalism in their criminal craft that they can only be exposed by conducting a serious examination. Of course, not in all cases it is available. But, nevertheless, before purchasing anything, try to consult with specialists. This will help you avoid big griefs.
