1975 Soviet 1 Kopek

This 1 kopek coin from 1975 was struck in aluminum, a cost-saving measure that made it lighter than a politician's promise during Brezhnev's tenure.

Weighing in at just over a gram, it featured a simple sheaf of wheat on the reverse and the Soviet state emblem on the obverse. The mint in Leningrad handled production, though exact figures are murky—records from that period weren't always reliable.

What surprises people is how common these coins were in daily life. They'd turn up in pockets, markets, and even as makeshift washers in makeshift repairs.

As for myths, no, it wasn't made from recycled Sputnik parts. That's just collector fantasy.