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Gold Russian Roubles

Gold Russian Roubles

The Russian Rouble or Chervonetz is a sought-after coin with connections to the end of Imperial Russian and the start of the Soviet Union. Issued between 1923 and 1978, these Gold Roubles were known as Chervonetz both in reference to the original Chervonetz coins that were minted from 1701 during the reign of Peter the Great and to their distinctive red colour – chervonetz also means 'red coin' in Russian.  Struck from 90% pure gold, these iconic Russian coins have just one denomination of 10 Roubles. Their great historical significance coupled with their gold content makes them a smart choice for investors or collectors and VAT Free Gold Russian Roubles are available at today's most competitive prices at StoneX Bullion.

184 - est. dispatch in 1-2 days
10 Rouble Gold Chervonetz | 1923-1982
0.25oz
Gross, Inc. VAT
€757.46

Rouble: The Last Imperial Coin of Russia

The rouble is formerly known as the Chervonetz, the last coins of the Russian Imperial Empire. The term Chervonetz means purity and these gold bullion coins contain .900 fineness making them an excellent investment with an historical interest.

Buying rouble coins

Buying rouble bullion coins could not be easier from the StoneX Bullion online store. Simply click on the image above to take you through to the product description page and click the “add to cart” button indicated by the orange band next to the image. Select the country you would like the product shipping to and proceed to check-out.

The Chervonetz 10 rouble gold coin: From Imperial Russia to Communism

The Chervonetz is a gold bullion coin from Russia Imperial era. Struck in 90% pure gold it has a single denomination of 10 roubles. Chervontsy (plural) used to be legal tender coins in circulation both in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, and are of great historical significance and collectible value. As it is conceived from the name given to the coin, "червонное золото," meaning pure gold, the alloy used in the original bullion was much purer. The original Chervonetz coins were first minted in 1701 under Peter the Great and weighed 3.47g with a fineness of .986 as well as specifications that conformed with the Dutch ducat in terms of purity.

The term "chervonetz" was used prior to the reign of Peter I to refer to all foreign gold coins that were in circulation within Russia. Chervontsy weighing 3.47 gram with 0.986 gold-to-alloy ratio were minted until 1757 when the golden ruble became the official currency. In 1923, RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) authorities introduced a parallel currency which was fully convertible and backed by the gold standard. Chevronetz money existed in paper form (for domestic circulation) and as gold coins (for international payments). These coins contained 8.6 grams of .900 gold alloy and fetched a high rate on the foreign stock exchanges. The resulting income from these highly valuable and popular bullion coins enabled the Soviet Union to finance a New Economic Policy. There were around 2,750,000 coins minted by the independent Russian socialist state with the year 1923 on the reverse side. The new coins contained less gold to strengthen Soviet economics with a strong currency backed by the gold reserve, but were not successful due to political reasons.

Under USSR regime, there was another attempt in 1925 to strike more Gold Chervontsy, but except for the coins that went abroad, the remaining were eventually melted down or used for the needs of the Soviet Industry. A small number of these coins remain in museums or in circulation as collector coins. A sample recently fetched £5,500 at auction. An excellent reproduction of the original design was struck from 1976 until 1982 with a face value of ten roubles. These coins are not restrikes, as the years of issue change, and they are also avidly pursued by collectors as the 1976 mintage spawned just 250,000 pieces making them very rare indeed. A further 1 million coins were struck in each of the following years. They are a solid investment option both for their quality and their historical significance, representing a period where the turbulent political situation in Russia would change the world forever. Chervonetz coins tend to fall more into the collector category, although their relative abundance makes them suitable for investment purposes as well.

Chervonetz description

Chervonetz coins weigh 8.6026 grams in total, and with a fineness of 900/1000 their fine weight is 7.7416 grams (almost a 1/4 ounce),with a nominal value of 10 Roubles.

On the obverse we see the State Emblem of the RSFSR, a seal bearing the hammer and sickle motif framed by a wreath of grain, and surrounded by ears before a rising sun. The artwork represents workers and peasants as the two pillars of the state .The inscriptions along the rim read ПРОЛЕТАРИИ ВСЕХ СТРАН СОЕДИНЯЙТЕСЬ! (WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!) at the top, and under the State Emblem Р.С.Ф.С.Р (R.S.F.S.R meaning Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic). The design is framed by a circle of dots. The minting year 1925 is an exception as the letters written under the emblem are "CCCP," the Russian letters meaning USSR, the pre 1989 term for Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The reverse side shows a sower peasant standing legs apart, facing right, with his arm extended to the side as if he is distributing the seed. He is working against the background of a plough, the rising sun, and a silhouette of factories with smoking chimneys. In his left hand he has a basket of seed that is relieved with a cloth across his chest and shoulder. The inscriptions along the rim framed by a circle of dots indicate the face value of the coin together with the year of issue to the bottom left.

The production of the Chervonetz

The 1976-1982 gold Chervonetz coins were the work of Russia’s Leningrad Mint, which today is known as the now St. Petersburg Mint. Using advanced technology they are capable of producing high artistic standards and perfect striking quality. A trademark phrase -"Leningradskii Monetny Dvor" ("Leningrad Mint") is engraved on the coins’ edge. Chervontsy are very popular in Russia and have a good reputation internationally having gained prizes in opinion polls held by foreign numismatic publications and organizations. The Saint Petersburg Mint is one of the world's largest refineries and was founded by Peter the Great in 1724 on the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress. It is one of the oldest industrial enterprises in Saint Petersburg. The Mint’s main building was constructed between 1800 and 1805 to replace coining workshops in the eastern fortifications of the Peter and Paul Fortress where money and medals have been produced since it inauguration. The Mint continues to produce coins, state awards and other official medals.

St. Petersburg Mint Quality Assurance

Given the complexity of the design, the quality of manufacturing, the exact specifications and authenticity phrase engraved on the edge, it is fair to say that a counterfeit Chevronetz coin is almost impossible to produce without being detected by experienced dealers. The St. Petersburg Mint give priority to the security of their bullion products and promise quality assurance to investors for all their coins.

Selling Chervonetz coins

As a leading European dealer of bullion products, StoneX Bullion is always keen to hear from anybody looking to cash in on any gold Rouble coins they have for sale. We offer excellent rates for Russian Chevronetz coins and promise to pay current market rates in accordance with the latest spot gold prices. If you do have Roubles for sale, do not hesitate to contact a member of our staff who will be happy to prepare a fixed-fee offer on your behalf and confirm the same by email.