Russia USSR / CCCP 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 50 Kopeks (Fakes are possible) 1958 to 1991

The modern Russian alphabet with Cyrillic script looks enough like Latin letters that most westerners try to do transliteration. But it doesn't quite work, does it? The Russian word kopek, a monetary denomination, ends up as KONEEK or KOHEEK or any number of similar 'almost but not quite' interpretations. Likewise, CCCP really stands for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR, what we often call the Soviet Union.

Lettering aside, coins that look like our picture were minted in Russia between 1958 and 1991. Other coins with similar patters were minted before, during, and after this time period, but this page applies only to coins that look like the pictured 20 kopek example.

The metallic composition of these kopeks changes with denomination and year:

1 KOPEK 1958: copper-nickel
1 KOPEK 1961 TO 1991: brass
2 KOPEKS 1958: copper-nickel
2 KOPEKS 1961 TO 1991: brass
3 KOPEKS 1958: copper-zing
3 KOPEKS 1961 TO 1991: aluminum-bronze
5 KOPEKS 1958: copper-zinc
5 KOPEKS 1961 TO 1991: aluminum-bronze
10 KOPEKS 1958: copper-nickel
10 KOPEKS 1961 TO 1991: copper-nickel-zinc
15 KOPEKS 1958: copper-nickel
15 KOPEKS 1961 TO 1991: copper-nickel-zinc
20 KOPEKS 1958: copper-nickel
20 KOPEKS 1961 TO 1991: copper-nickel-zinc
50 KOPEKS 1958: copper-nickel
50 KOPEKS 1961 TO 1991: copper-nickel-zinc

Most of these coins are worth small amounts. But some carry decent numismatic (coin collector) value. The values below first address all the common, low value coins as one group, then call out the high value coins individually.

If your coin does not appear in the HIGH VALUE list below, it is a low value coin with approximately these catalog values. Beware of counterfeits of HIGH VALUE coins (see below).

LOW VALUE COINS (applies to all denominations, 1 through 50 kopeks)
worn: less than $1 US dollar
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: $1
fully uncirculated: $2

High value coins are listed with an approximate catalog value for well preserved condition.

HIGH VALUE COINS
1 KOPEK 1958: $2000
1 KOPEK 1964: $10
2 KOPEKS 1958: $2000
2 KOPEKS 1964: $15
3 KOPEKS 1958: $2000
3 KOPEKS 1965: $15
3 KOPEKS 1966: $10
5 KOPEKS 1958: $2000
5 KOPEKS 1965: $80
5 KOPEKS 1966: $80
5 KOPEKS 1967: $30
5 KOPEKS 1968: $30
5 KOPEKS 1969: $80
5 KOPEKS 1970: $140
5 KOPEKS 1971: $60
5 KOPEKS 1972: $60
5 KOPEKS 1990M: $400 (must have M mint mark)
10 KOPEKS 1958: $2000
10 KOPEKS 1965: $80
10 KOPEKS 1966: $80
10 KOPEKS 1967: $20
10 KOPEKS 1968: $20
10 KOPEKS 1990M: $400 (must have M mint mark)
15 KOPEKS 1958: $5000
15 KOPEKS 1965: $80
15 KOPEKS 1966: $80
15 KOPEKS 1967: $30
15 KOPEKS 1968: $30
15 KOPEKS 1969: $60
15 KOPEKS 1970: $300
15 KOPEKS 1971: $100
15 KOPEKS 1972: $100
15 KOPEKS 1973: $100
15 KOPEKS 1974: $30
15 KOPEKS 1975: $30
20 KOPEKS 1958: $2000
20 KOPEKS 1965: $80
20 KOPEKS 1966: $80
20 KOPEKS 1967: $20
20 KOPEKS 1968: $20
20 KOPEKS 1969: $60
20 KOPEKS 1970: $100
20 KOPEKS 1971: $60
20 KOPEKS 1972: $70
20 KOPEKS 1973: $100
20 KOPEKS 1974: $25
20 KOPEKS 1975: $25
20 KOPEKS 1976: $60
20 KOPEKS 1991: $500 (must no have M mint mark)
50 KOPEKS 1958: $10000
50 KOPEKS 1961: $10
50 KOPEKS 1967: $20
50 KOPEKS 1970: $100
50 KOPEKS 1971: $100
50 KOPEKS 1975: $40
50 KOPEKS 1986: $100 (must have date on edge of coin)
50 KOPEKS 1989: $25 (must have date on edge of coin)

With some very high value coins, especially those dated 1958, you can bet that fakes abound. The image here shows a fake 1958 5 kopeks. It looks real, doesn't it? Never buy valuable coins from someone you don't fully trust.
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