ex-Soviet nations set
U1chicago
Posts: 6,102 ✭✭✭✭✭
The set started with my interest in coins from Kazakhstan (they have an excellent bimetallic space series, which I discovered years back by collecting the silver and niobium series from Austria) and expanded as I found several other coins that appealed to me. Having a few already in hand, I decided to embark on the challenge of adding one from each of the fifteen former Soviet Republics. The goals are that every coin is post 1991 (after independence), silver, and graded (rules can be altered if needed). Some of these are simple enough to find while others have proven to be quite difficult to attain. Through this journey, the set has seen some expansion to countries that were never Republics but either came close or played some sort of pivotal role. There is also a small diversion to explore the disputed territories (areas that were within the Soviet Union or had some connection but did not become recognized independent countries-they tend to be a fragile part of other independent nations). Since most of these do not have official coins, the rules are a bit more relaxed as to what can be part of the set (the goals of graded and silver have been dropped).
What follows is each of the fifteen republics in alphabetical order. Then you will see the "add-ons" and the disputed territories.
Country Armenia
Denomination 1000 Dram
Year 2007
Subject Flora and Fauna of Armenia
Composition Silver 0.925
Weight (gr) 33.6
Diameter (mm) 40
Mintage 500
Mint Czech Mint
Grade PCGS PR 69 DCAM
Country Azerbaijan
Denomination 5 Manat
Year 2015
Subject Wrestling
Composition Silver 0.999
Weight (gr) 31.21
Diameter (mm) 38.61
Mintage 1,000-1,100
Mint Royal Mint (London)
Grade NGC PF 70 UCAM
Country Belarus
Denomination 20 Roubles
Year 2014
Subject The Legend of the Bullfinch
Composition Silver 0.925
Weight (gr) 33.62
Diameter (mm) 38.61
Mintage 2,000
Mint Lithuanian Mint
Grade PCGS PR 70 DCAM
Country Estonia
Denomination 25 krooni
Year 2010
Subject History of Estonia
Composition Silver 0.999
Weight (gr) 24.1
Diameter (mm) 38.61
Mintage 15,000
Mint Mint of Finland
Grade PCGS PR 70 DCAM
Country Georgia
Denomination 5 Lari
Year 2019
Subject 100th Anniversary of Issuance of the First Georgian National Postage Stamp
Composition Silver 0.925
Weight (gr) 15.5
Size (mm) 33 x 27
Mintage 1,500
Mint Mennica Polska (Warsaw, Poland)
Country Kazakhstan
Denomination 500 Tenge
Year 2013
Subject Heritage of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Composition Silver 0.925
Weight (gr) 31.1
Diameter (mm) 38.61
Mintage 7,000
Mint Kazakhstan Mint
Grade PCGS PR 70 DCAM
Country Kyrgyzstan
Denomination 10 Som
Year 2017
Subject Age of the Kyrgyz Khaganate
Composition Silver 0.925
Weight (gr) 28.28
Diameter (mm) 38.61
Mintage 1,000
Mint Kazakhstan Mint
Grade NGC PF 69 UCAM
Country Latvia
Denomination 1 Lats
Year 2004
Subject Coin of Time
Composition Silver 0.900 & niobium
Weight (gr) 17.15
Diameter (mm) 34
Mintage 5,000
Mint Münze Österreich (Austria)
Country Lithuania
to be determined
Country Moldova
Denomination 50 Lei
Year 2012
Subject Red Book (of animals)
Composition Silver 0.999
Weight (gr) 16.5
Diameter (mm) 30
Mintage 1,000
Mint issued by the National Bank of Moldova (likely made by the State Mint in Romania)
Country Russia
Denomination 3 Roubles
Year 2010
Subject Year of the Tiger
Composition Silver 0.925
Weight (gr) 33.94
Diameter (mm) 39
Mintage 15,000
Mint Moscow Mint
Grade PCGS PR 70 DCAM
Country Tajikistan
Denomination 5 Somoni
Year 2010
Subject 10th Anniversary of EurAsEC
Composition Silver 0.925
Weight (gr) 31.1
Diameter (mm) 38.61
Mintage 2,000
Mint Kazakhstan Mint
Grade NGC PF 67 UCAM
Country Turkmenistan
Denomination 20 Manat
Year 2011
Subject 20th Anniversary of Independence
Composition Silver
Weight (gr) 8.11
Diameter (mm) 22
Mintage 300
Mint Royal Mint (UK)
Country Ukraine
Denomination 10 Hryven
Year 2013
Subject Ukrainian Heritage
Composition Silver 0.925
Weight (gr) 33.74
Diameter (mm) 38.6
Mintage 5,000
Mint Ukrainian Mint
Country Uzbekistan
to be determined
Comments
This post starts the "add-ons" section. These are coins that represent countries that had some important role or were close to becoming a Republic. There could be quite a few of these and my set will likely not cover all. The standard for inclusion in the set is simple: I must like the coin (it also helps if the price is reasonably low).
Country Afghanistan
Denomination 500 Afghanis
Year 1995
Subject 50th Anniversary of the United Nations
Composition Silver 0.925
Weight (gr) 28.28
Diameter (mm) 38.61
Mintage not certain (some sources have it at 100,000)
Mint Royal Mint
Grade PCGS PR 69 DCAM
Country Mongolia
Denomination 500 Togrog
Year 2005
Subject Endangered Wildlife
Composition Silver 0.925 & Niobium
Weight (gr) 25
Diameter (mm) 30 x 45 (it's an oval)
Mintage 5,000
Mint CIT, Liechtenstein (most likely-can't find exact confirmation)
As an addendum to my set of former Soviet Union nations, I've decided to include some related disputed territories. Some are more difficult (and more expensive) to find than others so the current crop might be all. A few of these have been placed in my own ddddd/u1toning slabs to add a little extra entertainment.
Moldova segment
Country: Transnistria
Coin: European wildcat (Forest Cat)
Face value: 1 Ruble
Year: 2020
Composition: steel with nickel-plated
Diameter (mm): 22
Mintage: 50,000
Country: Gagauzia
Face value: 10 Para
Year: 2018
Composition: Aluminum
Diameter (mm): 24 mm
Mintage: Unknown
Azerbaijan segment
Country: Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)
Coin: Cheetah
Face value: 1 Dram
Year: 2004
Composition: Aluminum
Diameter (mm): 21.7
Mintage: unknown
Georgia segment
Country: South Ossetia
Face value: 2 Rubles
Year: 2013
Composition: Bimetallic: brass center in copper plated steel ring
Diameter (mm): 28 mm
Mintage: Unknown
Others
Country: Kurdistan
Face value: 10 Dinars
Year: 1424 (2003)
Composition: Copper-nickel
Diameter (mm): 38.6 mm
Mintage: 4,700 (some sources say 10,000 were authorized)
Country: Viinamarisaar
Face value: 7 Krooni
Year: 2007
Composition: Purple anodized niobium
Diameter (mm): 17
Mintage: 100
I'll add in more tidbits over time; feel free to share your examples too!
From the mint's writeup: "Armenia is the oldest place for viticulture. According to the Bible, Noah, having descended from the mountain Ararat, planted the first vine, thus giving a start to winegrowing in Armenia. There are more than 200 old and new high quality sorts of grapes. Most of these sorts are local and are used for both a table use and production of wine and cognac."
The coin is fairly simple but the grape design was very appealing to me. The side with the Armenian seal also features an ornate background with alternating grape bunches and leaves.
I like these names silver modern crowns
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
@bidask there are definitely plenty of nice designs on these moderns.
This coin was part of a series of five that honored the First European Games, a version of the Olympics for Europe, held in Baku. Azerbaijan did fairly well, capturing the third most gold medals, 26 (Russia and Belarus were first and second). There is some conflicting information about the mintage. I've seen some sources claim as few as 100 while others claim 1,000. Part of the issue seems to be that these were available individually as well as part of a set of five (limited to 100 sets). I'm not sure if that set is part of the 1,000 total mintage or if it makes the mintage 1,100.
In Belarusian folklore, the bullfinch is a small, modest, and originally grey bird. He is a Prometheus figure who brings fire to Earth. However, what sets him apart is that he does not steal the fire; instead he carries out the order of God. No others animals were able to do the task but the bullfinch persevered. He endured the pain while completing his mission. His neck and breast remained red as a reminder of the heroic deed.
This is one of the last coins made before Estonia switched over to the Euro in 2011.
The COA has a good description that I'm including below:
The 25-Kroon collector coin resembles an ethnographic spoke coin. It was believed to be a lucky coin and a talisman that attracts wealth and success, and to protect its owner from misfortune. It was thought that if the eight-heeled star revolves clockwise, it fortifies the life circle, and if counter–clockwise, then creative powers.
Folk medicine uses the eight-heeled star to cure diseases and fend off evil forces. The eight-heeled star is a symbol connecting the Heaven and the Earth that allows access to the unearthly light, wisdom and chaste values. On the obverse of the collector coin, in the heart of the eight-heeled star, there is the national coat of arms of the Republic of Estonia. Around it, clockwise fly the soul birds of our ancestors, symbolizing the Heaven, and counter-clockwise stroll the daughters of the Mother of the Sward, symbolizing the Earth.
Midsummer night, June 23, is one of the most ancient festivals for Estonians and it has been celebrated every year regardless of the times. In Midsummer Night people look for the mystic Fern Blossom, which, as the legend goes, blooms for just a moment and brings its founder utmost wealth, health and wisdom. The reverse of the collector coin depicts the Fern Blossom growing in a dip of our ancestors' sacrificial rock.