Russian Empire
The Russian rouble was a decimalized currency since the early 1700s, a century before any county in Europe. Gold and silver mirrored the Napoleonic/LMU standard at a 4 to 1 ratio.
In 1886, Russian gold was debased to match the Napoleonic standard (from 6.54 grams at 0.917 fine to 6.45 grams at 0.9 fine).
Russian silver matched the Napoleonic franc (5 grams at 0.9 fine) in 1886, but was not debased to 0.835 fine according to the LMU standard for silver below 25 grams. Before 1886, the silver rouble had nearly the same silver content (5.18 grams at 0.868 fine, or 4.5 grams silver like the Napoleonic franc) and had since 1798.
In 1897, the gold rouble was debased. The silver rouble was not debased.
Circulation Coins
Certain images are clickable for more detail
10 Roubles (equiv. to 40 francs)
1886-1894 (Alexander III)
(Image: Heritage May 2023)
15 Roubles (equiv. to 40 francs)
1897 (Nicholas II)
(Image: Stack’s Jan 2024)
5 Roubles (equiv. to 20 francs)
1886-1894 (Alexander III)
(Image: Stack’s Jan 2024)
7.5 Roubles (equiv. to 20 francs)
1897 (Nicholas II)
(Image: Stack’s Jan 2024)
1 Rouble (equiv. to 4 francs, 20 grams)
1886-1894 (Alexander III, Large Head)
(Image: Auction House Apr 2020)
1 Rouble (equiv. to 4 francs, 20 grams)
1886-1894 (Alexander III, Small Head)
(Image: Auction House Apr 2020)
1 Rouble (equiv. to 4 francs, 20 grams)
1895-1915 (Nicholas)
(Image: Stack’s Jan 2024)
50 Kopeks / 1/2 Rouble (equiv. to 2 francs, 10 grams)
1886-1894 (Alexander III)
(Image: Auction House Apr 2020)
50 Kopeks / 1/2 Rouble (equiv. to 2 francs, 10 grams)
1895-1914 (Nicholas II)
(Image: Auction House Apr 2020)
25 Kopeks / 1/4 Rouble (equiv. to 1 franc, 5 grams)
1886-1894 (Alexander III)
(Image: Auction House Apr 2020)
25 Kopeks / 1/4 Rouble (equiv. to 1 franc, 5 grams)
1895-1901 (Nicholas II)
(Image: Auction House Apr 2020)
Debased Rouble (Non-Matching)
In 1897, in order to move to a gold standard and merge the values of the paper and gold roubles (which had a value above the paper rouble - here), the gold roubles were debased. The 1897-1911 5 rouble now had the content of 2/3 of the previous Alexander III 5 rouble. Likewise the 1897 7.5 rouble was equivalent to the Alexander III 5 rouble.
10 Rouble (equiv. to 2/3 of 40 francs)
1898-1911 (Nicholas II)
(Image: Stack’s Jan 2024)
5 Roubles (equiv. to 2/3 of 20 francs)
1897-1911 (Nicholas II)
(Image: Stack’s Jan 2024)
Non-Circulating Coins
These coins were minted in small quantities either for ceremonial purposes (37.5 rouble) or never went into circulation due to the debasement (1895-1897 5 and 10 rouble).
37.5 Rouble (Equiv. to 100 Francs)
1902
(Image: Kunker Feb 2024)
10 Rouble (Equiv. to 40 Francs)
5 Rouble (Equiv. to 20 Francs)
1895-1896
(Image: Heritage Jan 2024)