Which USSR Commemorative Rubles Are Not Valuable
Among the many commemorative rubles of the Soviet Union, there are several common issues that are often found among the general population. It's important to understand that these coins themselves are not rare and are only of interest to collectors in exceptional condition.
These common coins include three rubles:
- 100th Anniversary of V.I. Lenin's Birth
- 20th Anniversary of the Victory over Fascist Germany
- 50th Anniversary of Soviet Power
These rubles only become valuable if they are in mint condition, uncirculated, or of Proof quality. Circulated coins with scuffs and scratches do not have high value.
The Secret of the Three Orbits: The "60 Years of October" Ruble
| Coin Version | Number of Orbits | Approximate Value |
| Standard | 4 | 20 Hryvnia |
| Rare | 3 | Over $2,000 |
One of the most interesting and expensive varieties is found on the commemorative ruble "60th Anniversary of the October Revolution." The standard coin, featuring an image of Lenin, the cruiser Aurora, and a launching rocket, is inexpensive, costing around 20 hryvnia.
However, there is an extremely rare version of this coin valued at over $2,000. The difference lies in the depiction of the atom: the standard coin has four electron orbits, while the rare one has only three. The initial design with three orbits was quickly withdrawn from production because the intertwined lines were perceived as a "Star of David," which was ideologically unacceptable.
Thus, the coin with three orbits became a numismatic rarity. If you come across such a specimen, know that you are holding a fortune.
Error in the Date: The A.S. Pushkin Ruble
Another valuable variety is related to a mint error. The standard commemorative ruble dedicated to Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was issued in 1984. Such a coin is worth about 100 hryvnia (approximately 300 Russian rubles or $4).
However, a rare version of this coin exists with the year 1985 mistakenly stamped on the reverse instead of 1984. This specimen is a numismatic rarity and is highly valued by collectors.
The value of the Pushkin ruble with the date "1985" can reach 7,500 hryvnia (over $280), and in some auctions, the price has gone as high as 25,000 rubles. The final price always depends on the coin's condition.
The Wrong Year: The Ruble for Lenin's 115th Anniversary
A similar date error is found on the ruble issued for the 115th anniversary of V.I. Lenin's birth. The standard coin is dated 1985. However, a small batch was released with the incorrect date — 1988.
This variety is extremely rare. The value of such a coin with the date "1988" is very high and can be around $2,000. In other currencies, this is approximately 50,000 hryvnia or 135,000 Russian rubles.
Finding such a specimen is a great stroke of luck for any collector. Therefore, when checking coins dedicated to Lenin, you should always pay close attention to the year of minting.
Valuable Errors: Coins with Engels, Lomonosov, and Navoi
| Coin | Standard Year | Error Year | Approximate Value of Rare Coin |
| Friedrich Engels | 1985 | 1983 | 7,500 hryvnia (about 20,000 rubles) |
| M.V. Lomonosov | 1986 | 1984 | 35,000 hryvnia (about 100,000 rubles) |
| Alisher Navoi | 1991 | 1990 | 1,000 hryvnia (about 3,000 rubles) |
Minting date errors are also found on other USSR commemorative rubles, making them rare and expensive. When sorting through coins, it's worth carefully examining the date on the reverse, as it can significantly increase the value of a specimen.
Here are a few examples of such error coins:
The case of the "Alisher Navoi" coin is particularly noteworthy. A standard specimen is worth about 40 hryvnia, while the version with the date error is valued much higher. Such finds prove that valuable specimens can be hidden even in an ordinary piggy bank.
The Most Expensive Error: The "Sergei Prokofiev" Ruble
One of the most expensive and rare varieties of USSR commemorative rubles is the coin dedicated to the composer Sergei Prokofiev. The standard ruble was issued in 1991 and features the composer's life dates on the obverse: 1891–1953.
A batch of coins was mistakenly minted where the year of death is incorrectly stated as 1952. This seemingly insignificant detail turns the coin into a true rarity.
The value of such a coin with the date "1952" can reach 100,000 hryvnia. In other currencies, this is about $4,000 or 300,000 Russian rubles. It is one of the rarest and most sought-after coins for collectors of Soviet commemorative issues.
