1993 Russian 50 Kopeks

This 50 kopeks coin from 1993 features the double-headed eagle, a design element revived from Russia's imperial past to symbolize the fledgling Federation's continuity.

That eagle, perched on the obverse, was part of the new state emblem adopted in 1992. The coin itself was struck in copper-nickel at the Leningrad Mint, which had just rebranded from its Soviet name. Reverse shows the denomination in a simple sans-serif font, practical for everyday use.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that chaotic period are spotty. What is clear is that these coins circulated widely during Russia's early economic reforms.

Plenty of these turn up in collections, often with the telltale edge lettering that's easy to fake. A collector once tried to pass off a rubbed one as rare; it wasn't.