Russian Ruble (₽)

Subject: culture

Keywords: Comprehensible Russian etymology Ushanka Show Yeah Russia

In Russia, you pay with the Russian ruble (рубль) and its smaller unit, the kopeck (копейка). If you’ve never been to Russia, these coins and banknotes may be unfamiliar. In this guide, you’ll see what Russian money looks like, with videos of ruble banknotes and kopeck coins, along with a clear explanation of their names and origins – everything you need to recognize and understand Russian currency.

Value and Denominations of the ruble

A ruble (рубль) isn’t worth much. At the moment, 1 ruble is worth 0.011 euros (Exchange Rate). So, 100 rubles is about 1 euro.

1 ruble = 100 kopecks, the Russian word for cents. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, and 50 kopecks, and 1, 2, 5, and 10 rubles. Banknotes come in 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 rubles. Breakdown within 1 minute in Russian Currency – Ruble (Currency Name, 2017) and in the video below.

Appearance of the Russian ruble

What does Russian money look like? Answers shown in Currency of the world – Russia. Russian ruble. Russian banknotes (Hobby World, 2020, 4 mins) and in a vlog by Sergey Baklykov (Real Russia): Russian Money: Rubles. Banknotes and Coins (2013, 11 mins). Alternative design on Behance.

History and Etymology of the Russian ruble

Where does the word ruble come from? Inna (from Comprehensible Russian) explains that рубль is related to рубить (“to chop”). The name likely dates back to early Rus’, when pieces were cut from silver ingots (grivna) to make smaller units of payment – so a ruble was, quite literally, a chopped-off piece. Great fusion of history and language lesson into one – so chop chop, watch it.

More history and background in How Old Is Russian Ruble? What Is Its Symbol? (Comprehensible Russian, 2019, 5 mins).

From the same channel, several clips (2019) explain what is depicted on the banknotes.

What Is On The 50-Ruble Banknote? (4 mins)
What Is On The 100- & 200-Ruble Banknote? (6 mins)
What Is On The 500, 1000 & 2000-Ruble Banknote? (5 mins)
What Is On The 5000-Ruble Banknote? (4 mins)

Yeah Natasha

From the channel Yeah Russia (update: renamed to Natasha’s Adventures), check out Russian banknotes and coins / History of Russian currency (2020, 16 mins). Among other things, learn about the relation between a kopeck and a spear, the slang word for a thousand rubles (косарь), and join Natasha on a trip to the bank.

The Russian ruble redesigned

The 200 and 2000 ruble banknotes got a new design in 2017. The 2000 ruble note came with a surprise. See (in addition to the video below) Funny trick with a new 2000 ruble banknote (Different Russia, 2018, 3 mins), and read Russia’s new unconventional banknotes look like euros (Russia Beyond, 2017).

Old is Gold

Meanwhile, old money, which can’t do all those things, only gets more beautiful. And more valuable. Один Рубль Ленин может стоить до 500 евро (Цена Монеты, 2018, 5 mins): 1 Lenin ruble can be worth up to 500 euros. More coins for collectors in Russian Ruble Coins Collection (Science Sir, 2020, 8 mins).

More old money but in banknote form in World banknotes – Russia – 1 Ruble 1917 (The Money Chest, 2020, 4 mins).

Also check out Russian Empires Large banknotes 100 and 500 rubles (Gumardee, 2019, 7 mins) and this Soviet Money. Review of the USSR paper banknotes (Ushanka Show, 2020, 15 mins).