Soviet 1967 1 Kopek

The 1967 Soviet 1 kopek was one of the first coins in the USSR made entirely from aluminum, a switch driven by the need to repurpose scarce metals for industry and defense.

That material choice came in 1961, when the Soviet mint began phasing out copper alloys for low-denomination coins, but the 1967 version refined the process with a simpler obverse design featuring the state emblem. I've handled hundreds of these over the decades; they're lightweight and prone to discoloration from everyday wear, which makes them less appealing in collections but practical for circulation at the time. Exact mintage figures are murky—Soviet records from that era weren't always reliable, and many were lost in bureaucratic reshuffles.

As for myths, no, it wasn't secretly made from recycled airplane parts, despite what some collectors claim. It's just a humble coin that got the job done.