Decimal
The
decimal currency
Decimalisation or decimalization (see spelling differences) is the conversion of a system of currency or of weights and measures to units related by powers of 10.
Most countries have decimalised their currencies, converting them from non-decimal ...
in Russia was introduced by
Peter the Great
Peter I (, ;
– ), better known as Peter the Great, was the Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia, Tsar of all Russia from 1682 and the first Emperor of Russia, Emperor of all Russia from 1721 until his death in 1725. He reigned j ...
during
Names of many of the coins are traced from older times.
*
Kopeck
The kopeck or kopek is or was a coin or a currency unit of a number of countries in Eastern Europe closely associated with the economy of Russia. It is usually the smallest denomination within a currency system; 100 kopeks are worth 1 ruble o ...
*
Denga
A denga (, ) was a Russian monetary unit with a value latterly equal to kopeck (100 kopecks = 1 Russian ruble). The denga was introduced in the second half of the 14th century during the reign of Dmitry Donskoy.
Etymology
The Russian word ' ...
, polkopeiki = 1/2 kopeck
*
Polushka
A polushka (, "half f a denga
F, or f, is the sixth letter of the Latin alphabet and many modern alphabets influenced by it, including the modern English alphabet and the alphabets of all other modern western European languages. Its name in English is ''ef'' (pronounc ...
) was a Russian coin with value equal to kopeck (100 kopecks = 1 rouble).
Production of polushkas as minted coins began in 1700 under Peter the Great, though more primitive hammered wire money polushkas had b ...
= 1/2 denga
*
Altyn = 3 kopeck
*Grivennik = 10 kopeck
*Pyatialtynny = 15 kopeck coin literally "5 altyn coin"
*Dvugrivenny = 20 kopeck, literally "two-grivennik coin"
* (polupoltina, polupoltinnik = 1/2 poltina = 25 kopeck
*Poltinnik, Poltina = 1/2 ruble or 50 kopeck
*
Ruble
The ruble or rouble (; rus, рубль, p=rublʲ) is a currency unit. Currently, currencies named ''ruble'' in circulation include the Russian ruble (RUB, ₽) in Russia and the Belarusian ruble (BYN, Rbl) in Belarus. These currencies are s ...
= 100 kopeck
*
Chervonets
Chervonets is the traditional Russian name for large foreign and domestic gold coins. The name comes from the Russian term червонное золото (''chervonnoye zoloto''), meaning ' red gold' (also known as rose gold)the old name of a hi ...
= 10 rubles
Old currency
*
Grivna
The grivna () was a currency as well as a measure of weight used in Kievan Rus' and other states in Eastern Europe from the 11th century.
Name
The word ''grivna'' is derived from from . In Old East Slavic, it had the form , ''grivĭna''. ...
, cf. Polish
grzywna
*Imperial = 10 rubles
*Half-imperial (''poluimperial'') = 5 rubles
*, Russian term for West European
silver coin
Silver coins are one of the oldest mass-produced form of coinage. Silver has been used as a coinage metal since the times of the Greeks; their silver drachmas were popular trade coins. The ancient Persians used silver coins between 612–330 B ...
s; derived from "
Joachimsthaler
A thaler or taler ( ; , previously spelled ) is one of the large silver coins minted in the states and territories of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy during the Early Modern period. A ''thaler'' size silver coin has a diameter o ...
": the name
Efim is Russian for "
Joachim
Joachim was, according to Sacred tradition, the husband of Saint Anne, the father of Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), and the maternal grandfather of Jesus. The story of Joachim and Anne first appears in the Gospel of James, part of ...
".
Non-Russian
*''Grosh'' =
Groschen
Groschen (; from "thick", via Old Czech ') is the (sometimes colloquial) name for various coins, especially a silver coin used in parts of Europe including Kingdom of France, France, some of the Italian states, and various states of the Holy R ...
, see
:ru:Грош. Various ''Groschen'', e.g.,
Polish grosz. In 18th century "grosh" ha come to mean 2-kopeck coin. Hence the sayings expressing low value of something: "грош им цена" (literally "worth a grosh", i.e., "not worth a dime"), "пропадешь ни за грош" (you will die not even for a grosh), etc.
пропасть ни за грош
/ref>
See also
* Slang terms for money#Russia
References
{{reflist
Economic history of Russia
Wikipedia glossaries
Currency lists