In Russia, only two mints produce coins - these are Moscow and St. Petersburg. I talked about them in detail in articles. But until now, many novice numismatists and ordinary coin owners are constantly confused about them, and sometimes I can’t find the location of the mint stamp on the coin. Because of this, it is not possible to accurately determine the market value of the coin, because the same denomination issued by different mints, although in rare cases, differs in price.

So on modern coins In Russia, including jubilee ones, you can find two abbreviations for mints: MMD and SPMD. The first, as you understand, belongs to the Moscow Mint, the second, respectively, to the St. Petersburg Mint. But it happens that the mint is not indicated, as it was with. In this case, the coin automatically becomes rare and expensive.

On penny coins, the letters M and C-P are used to designate the mint. They are located on the front side of the coin depicting a rider with a spear, under the hoof of his horse.

Alexander Igorevich

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If in the future you want to have a collection of rare coins, then when collecting specific specimens, it is also important to pay attention to the mint. Sometimes this knowledge helps to quickly determine the market value of a new product that has fallen into the hands. The same copy, released by different yards, may differ in price several times.

History and Modernity of Russian Mints

On the territory of modern Russian Federation There are only two mints in operation. One works in Moscow, and the second - in St. Petersburg. On modern coins, the names are minted as "" or "". If the products are cheap, then they will simply have the letters “M” or “S-P”.

There are instances in which no indication of origin. The cost of such a marriage increases significantly. the fact that the MMD stamp usually looks several times larger than the St. Petersburg stamp is alarming. In fact, there is nothing strange in this, because that is how it really is.

The first Russian mint was founded in 1534. This happened in the then capital Moscow under Tsar John IV. In St. Petersburg, this institution was founded by Peter I in 1724. Since 1876, the mint in St. Petersburg has become the only one in the country. Today it is still located on the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress. In 1921, it was here that the minting of Soviet coins began. The Yekaterinburg Mint also operated in Russia from 1727 to 1876. At the Suzun copper smelter, the yard worked from 1766 to 1847.

Collecting coins, or numismatics, is the most popular form of collecting. Some consider it wrong to call coin collecting numismatics, since this word refers to the science of the origin and history of coins. However, the essence of the process does not change.

There are three main areas of coin collecting: thematic (collecting coins with certain images), collecting commemorative and commemorative coins, weathering (coins of a certain country by year and by year). mints, that is, they have certain hallmarks of the mints of Russia or another state).

It is worth noting that coin collecting is a very expensive hobby. Vintage copies can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Not everyone can afford to buy a piece of metal for such an amount. Commemorative and commemorative coins also have a significant value, since in most cases they are made of precious metals or are produced in limited quantities. That is why among novice numismatists, the most popular area of ​​collecting is collecting weather cards of the USSR and Russia. But even here it is not so simple! Even coins of the same state, denomination, year of issue and the same condition can have different prices on the market.

Why are some coins more expensive?

For example, in the Russian Federation today there are two mints - in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Both of these enterprises in the same period of time issued coins of the same denomination. However, one of the mints could issue a limited series. It is coins minted in a smaller circulation that will have a higher value. The limited series can be explained by the fact that the mint did not keep up with the minting, and part of the order was transferred to the second. The hallmarks of Russian mints will help determine the manufacturer.

What is a stigma?

The Mint is a state-owned enterprise engaged in the manufacture of banknotes, orders, medals, commemorative signs, and minting of coins.

Stamp - a sign, designation of the enterprise at which the coin was made (minted). Letters, monograms, badges, drawings, and so on can serve as hallmarks of mints.

As noted earlier, on which mint - Moscow or St. Petersburg - minted a coin, its market value depends.

The first domestic coin, which has a mint stamp, is the ruble of 1975, dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of the Victory in the Second World War. The monogram (stamp) of the mint is minted at the bottom right of the image of the monument. Later on copper-nickel commemorative coins were not stamped with mints. In addition to domestic coins, the stamp of the Russian Mint (SPMD - St. Petersburg Mint) is on the change coins of Tajikistan.

Where are the hallmarks of the Russian mints placed on the coins?

In 1991, the hallmarks of the mints were the letters "M" and "L" - the Moscow and Leningrad Mints. On Soviet coins, the stamp was to the right of the coat of arms. Exception - 5 and g.

There are various signs mints of Russia. The letter "M" - 10 kopecks, the letter "L" - 50 kopecks, the monograms LMD and MMD - 1 ruble. On the coins of this period, the hallmarks of the mints are located under the denomination.

On all modern coins in circulation, the mints of Russia are indicated (designations - M, MMD, S-P, SPMD). On change coins (1-50 kopecks), S-P or M can be located under the horse's hoof. The letter "M" stands on coins minted by the Moscow Mint, "S-P" - St. Petersburg.

This principle is also observed on coins with a face value of 1, 2, 5 and 10 rubles. If you look closely, then on the coin on the left under the paw of the double-headed eagle you can see the monograms MMD or SPMD (Moscow or St. Petersburg Mint, respectively). However, there are also differences here - on coins of the same mint and the same year of minting, the stamp has a different location relative to the eagle's paw. The market value of products with an offset is slightly higher.

Why are some coins missing hallmarks?

It should also be noted that the mark of the Russian mints on the coin may not be. Most often, its absence is a manufacturing defect - the monogram or letter designation was simply forgotten to be applied during the manufacture of the stamp. To date, four coins without a mark are known - 1 ruble 1993 (dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the birth of Vernadsky), 5 kopecks 2002 and 2003, 2 rubles 2001 with the image of Yuri Gagarin (40 years of the first human flight into the space). These coins are quite rare and, therefore, are of particular value to collectors.

As for Soviet coins, almost all of them have no hallmark. You can identify the mint by analyzing the coin itself in detail. Some features of the pattern of stamps allow you to determine the place of minting. The most obvious differences are in the letter designation on the coin.

History of the Moscow Mint (stamp M, MMD)

History of the St. Petersburg Mint (stamp L, S-P, SPMD)

The city in which the oldest operating mint in Russia is located is St. Petersburg. The Mint was founded in 1724 by Peter I. Peter-Pavel's Fortress. This enterprise is one of the largest mints in the world. Also, the building is a unique architectural monument and the oldest industrial enterprise in the city. The Mint is engaged in the manufacture of insignia, orders, medals, minting of commemorative and commemorative coins, including coins made of precious metals.

Many investors began their journey of investing in gold by collecting expensive coins. Let's see what the rarest Russian coins can bring you good income. What coins are in demand at the present time, and how to make a hobby bring money?

The rarest and most expensive coins of Russia

Let's start, perhaps, with the coins of the USSR and up to the present, coins. Before we get started, let's clarify some basic terms:

• SPMD - St. Petersburg Mint;
• MMD - Moscow Mint;
• BOMD - No mint designation.

5 kopecks 2002 BOMD

The cost of a simple coin of 5 kopecks in 2002 is very small (only 2-3 rubles). But along with them, rare ones were also released. given time coins of 5 kopecks of 2002 without the designation of the mint. On a coin of this denomination, the mintmark is located under the horse's left hoof. The cost is 2500-3500 thousand rubles.

50 kopecks 2001 MMD

This coin can safely be called a "collector's dream". It was not put into circulation, and there were no facts of sale either. But it is known that the coin was minted in MMD. It is made of brass and has a characteristic yellow tint, and 105 corrugations can be counted on the edge. The cost is 100,000 - 120,000 rubles.

1 ruble 1997 MMD

Among the coins of 1 ruble denomination of 1997, there is a rather valuable specimen. The main difference is a wide edging, which can be either flat or with a small step. The coin was minted at the Moscow Mint. The cost is 4000-8000 rubles.

1 ruble 2003 SPMD

Such rubles have a very limited circulation and were minted exclusively in SPMD. On the edge, you can count 110 corrugations, the coin is an alloy of copper and nickel, so it is not attracted by a magnet. The cost is 10,000 rubles.

1 ruble 2001 MMD

Another very rare ruble. It was minted in 2001 by MMD, and should not have been put into circulation. But for unknown reasons, an indefinite amount still fell into the hands. The coin, like the previous one, has a copper-nickel alloy and is not attracted by a magnet. It can be easily confused with the ruble, issued in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Commonwealth Independent States. The cost is 30,000 rubles.

2 rubles with Yu.A Gagarin 2001 BOMD

In 2001, in honor of the 40th anniversary of manned space flight, a coin with a portrait of Yuri Gagarin was issued. It was minted in MMD. But there is also rare specimens no mint mark. The cost of such 4 000 rubles.

2 rubles 2003 SPMD

Limited edition coin. Only SPMD was minted and has a significant rarity. It is made of an alloy of nickel and copper (not attracted by a magnet). On the edge, you can count 84 corrugations divided into 12 sections, each of which has 7 corrugations. The cost is from 3,000 - 8,000 rubles.

2 rubles 2001 MMD

Officially, the 2 ruble coin of 2001 was not minted by any mint, but there are several copies (it is not known exactly how many) that have the MMD mark. The cost is 50,000 rubles.

5 rubles 1999 SPMD

The most expensive and rarest coin of modern Russia. It is only known that one single copy was found, and there is confirmation of the sale and purchase of this coin at a price of 250,000 rubles.

5 rubles 2003 SPMD

The most common coin with a face value of five rubles, only with the sign of the St. Petersburg Mint. The cost is 6,000 rubles.

Average coin value

And now, for greater convenience, I would like to summarize the knowledge we have gained and summarize them in a more convenient table.

Cost table

Auction of expensive and rare coins

If you are a happy owner of rare coins, and besides, you have no personal attachment to them, then you can easily participate in various auctions and earn decent money. Below is a list of several popular online auctions.

Many beginners in numismatics are somewhat skeptical about definition of the mint who issued this coin. And let's say this is wrong for the future collector of rare coins. After all, knowledge of the mint sometimes helps to determine the market value of a rarity that has fallen into your hands. The same denomination issued by different mints can differ in price by several times.

So how to determine the mint on the coins of Russia. First you need to know that in modern Russia there are two mints: Moscow and St. Petersburg. And on modern coins their names are minted in the form of monograms: MMD and SPMD. On penny coins, the sign is on the reverse in the form of the letters M and S-P. Sometimes the designation of the court is absent on some coins. And as a result of such a marriage, the value of the coin grows significantly. Also, a novice collector should not be alarmed by the fact that the stamp of the Moscow Mint on the coins looks somewhat larger than the St. Petersburg one. This is the case.

To determine the mint for a numismatist, you may need a magnifying glass. But if circumstances permit, you can use a camera or scanner. But the last two methods are more suitable for old or worn coins. So a magnifying glass is the main tool of a numismatist.

But even with a magnifying glass, it is not always easy to find mint emblems on a coin. Therefore, we immediately suggest that on 10 ruble coins mint mark can be found on the obverse of the coin under its face value. The photo below clearly illustrates this.

And penny coins will please the collector with the letters M or S-P under the front hooves of the horse.

On the coins of the early nineties, the mints are marked on the front side of the coin in the form of the letters M (Moscow) or L (Leningrad).

Also, the mint can be determined by the edge (edge) of the coin - on MMD coins, the inscriptions are more rounded than on SPMD coins.

For ordinary coins that are in circulation, the emblems of the mints are on the reverse of the coin under the eagle's paw on the right side. Mint monograms are standard, so you can easily distinguish between them.

Here. now you know how to determine the mint on a coin and you can arrange all your coins not only in order, but also distinguish between mints, like a real professional numismatist.