Glossary of Russian currency

Decimal

The decimal currency in Russia was introduced by Peter the Great during his monetary reform [ru]

Names of many of the coins are traced from older times.

• Kopeck
• Denga, polkopeiki = 1/2 kopeck
• Polushka = 1/2 denga
• Altyn = 3 kopeck
• Grivennik = 10 kopeck
• Pyatialtynny = 15 kopeck coin literally "5 altyn coin"
• Dvugrivenny = 20 kopeck, literally "two-grivennik coin"
• Half-poltina [ru] (polupoltina, polupoltinnik = 1/2 poltina = 25 kopeck
• Poltinnik, Poltina = 1/2 ruble or 50 kopeck
• Ruble = 100 kopeck
• Chervonets = 10 rubles

Old currency

• Grivna, cf. Polish grzywna
• Imperial = 10 rubles
• Half-imperial (poluimperial) = 5 rubles
• Efimok [ru], Russian term for West European silver coins; derived from "Joachimsthaler": the name Efim is Russian for "Joachim".

Non-Russian

• Grosh = Groschen, 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"),^[1] "пропадешь ни за грош" (you will die not even for a grosh), etc.^[2]

See also

• Slang terms for money#Russia