1997 Russian 5 Roubles

This 1997 Russian 5 Roubles coin features a bimetallic design, with a brass center ringed by copper-nickel, a practical choice that helped deter counterfeiting in the chaotic post-Soviet economy.

Introduced as part of a series commemorating historical events, this particular issue likely marked an anniversary or figure from Russia's past—though exact themes for that year remain murky in my files. What I can say for sure is that it was struck at the Saint Petersburg Mint, one of the few facilities still operational after the USSR's collapse.

Production numbers? Those records vanished in the bureaucratic shuffle of the 1990s, so I won't guess. If you're hunting one, expect variations in edge lettering that might trip up the novice.

As for myths, I've heard tales of hidden messages in the design, but that's just wishful thinking from folks who've watched too many spy films.