Soviet ni-cupro (nickel-copper) commemorative coins are fortunately very affordable as millions of coins were struck, with the exception of the 1991 Barcelona Olympic coin set, available only as proof. Some of the earlier coins from 1965-1986 were restruck as proof coins as a novodel program in 1988 by Mezhnumizmatika to supply to the rest of world for hard cash. These can be distinguished by their edge as it reads the year 1988 with the letter "H" for Novodel. There are rare error coins struck, such as mules which were unintentionally made. These are not included in this set as it's extremely difficult to find such error coins.
Production of commemorative coins were slow in the early 60s, with more designs in the 70s and after the introduction of the Soviet Olympic coin program, a lot of commemorative coins were struck. However, there seems to be signs that most of the coins struck in the 80s and later rarely did circulate - most people just hoarded them even though there were millions struck.
Many designs feature important Socialist events, commemorate important people, famous monuments and architecture. Hope you enjoy them! This set is complete by the way.
If you have any questions, feel free to mail me at:
1965 - 20th Anniversary of Soviet victory over Fascist Germany
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1967 - 50th years of Soviet Power
| 10 kopek | 15 kopek | 20 kopek |
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| 50 kopek | 1 ruble | |
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| 1970 - 100th Anniversary of Lenin's Birth | 1975 - 30th Anniversary of Soviet Victory of Fascist Germany | 1977 - 60th Anniversary of Great October Socialist Revolution |
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1980 Soviet Olympics
| 1977 - Emblem | 1978 - Moscow Kremlin | 1979 - Moscow State University |
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| 1979 - Monument - To the Conquerors of Space | 1980 - Monument - Yury Dolgoruky | 1980 - Olympics Torch in Moscow |
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| 1981 - 20th Anniversary of First human in Space (Yuri Gagarin) | Friendship forever (Soviet - Bulgarian Friendship) | 1982 - 60th Anniversary of USSR |
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| 1983 - 165th Anniversary of Karl Max's birth | 20th Anniversary of first woman in space - Valentina Tereshkova | 400th Anniversary of Ivan Fyodorov's Death (struck in 1984) |
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| 1984 - 150th Anniversary of Dmitry Mendeleyev | 125th Anniversary of Alexander Popov | 185th Anniversary of Alexsandr Pushkin |
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| 1985 - 115th Anniversary of Lenin's birth | 40th Anniversary of Soviet Victory over Fascist Germany | 12th World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow '85 |
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| 165th Anniversary of Friedrich Engels' birth | 1986 - International Year of Peace | 275th Anniversary of Lomonosov's birth |
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| 1987 - 175th Anniversary of the Battle of Borodino (monument) | Battle of Borodino (bas relief) | 130th Anniversary of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky |
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| Set of 70th Anniversary of Great October Socialist Revolution, 1 ruble | 3 ruble | 5 ruble |
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| 1988 - 120th Anniversary of Maksim Gorky's birth | 160th Anniversary of Leo Tolstoy's birth | Monument - Peter the Great in Leningrad |
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| Monument - Millennium of Russia in Novgorod | Monument - Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev | 1989 - 175th Anniversary of Taras Shevchenko's birth |
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| 150th Anniversary of Modest Musorgsky's birth | Monument - St. Basil's Cathedral | Monument - Registan Ensemble in Samarkand |
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| 175th Anniversary of Mikhail Lermontov's birth | 100th Anniversary of Hamza Hakimzadeh Niyazi's birth | Monument - Cathedral of the Annunciation in Moscow |
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| Earthquake in Armenia | 100th Anniversary of Mihai Eminescu's death | |
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1990s
| 1990 - 130th Anniversary of Anton Chekhov's birth | Monument - The Grand Palace in Peterhof | 150th Anniversary of Pyotr Chaikovsky's birth |
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| Marshal of Soviet Union, Georgi Zhukov | Monument - Cathedral of Dormition in Moscow | 500th Anniversary of Francysk Skaryna's birth |
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| 125th Anniversary of Janis Rainis' birth | Monument - Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan | 1991 - 550th Anniversary of Alisher Navoi's birth |
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| 125th Anniversary of Pyotr Lebedev's birth | 100th Anniversary of Sergei Prokofiev's birth | Turkmen poet Makhtumkuli |
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| Monument - Cathedral of the Archangel in Moscow | 100th Anniversary of Konstantin Ivanov | The State Bank of USSR in Moscow |
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| Red Book - Blakiston's Fish Owl | Markhor | 850th Anniversary of Nezami Ganjavi's birth |
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| Monument - David of Sasun in Yerevan | 50th Anniversary of Victory in the Battle of Moscow | |
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1991 - Games of the 25th Olympiad in Barcelona
| Cycling | Javelin Throw | Wrestling |
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| Long Jump | Weightlifting | Athletics |
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10 November, 2008