A ruble that I got while I was in Russia. While you notice the right side of the image seems to suggest it's a blasting white ruble, the obverse seems to be "acidified".

When I showed that to my dad, he originally thought it to be a tin alloy which can't be possible as I did a weight test against the other rubles that I had. He then suggested it as a dipped coin, but then, why would one side be horribly ruined?



(Yes, the images are definately from a single coin)

rusty die?

It looks like a "home made" rouble for me. The diameter is it exactly the same like a good one? If it is a die cast coin, it must be shorter in diameter with half of millimeter or so.

Sdelako v Kitai

I compared this with another worker ruble:

Mass: 20.0g Diameter: 33.67mm Thickness: 2.65mm

This ruble

Mass: 20.0g Diameter: 33.79mm Thickness: 2.60mm

Wouldn't be suprised if this was made in China though.

It has the look of a Kitaiskii piece. I will look when I am there in a couple of months and see if I can find some fakes that are convincing.

Even if the metal used for die cast fakes is in the same purity (so the weight it is respected), the diameter or thickness differ slightly because the melted metal it compress after getting cold.

I brought out two other coins to compare and here are more bizarre data. Perhaps, it would be better if I could have more to compare with but this is all that I got.

1921 1 ruble
Diameter: 33.83
Thickness: 2.54
Mass: 19.9

1924 1 ruble
Diameter: 33.84
Thickness: 2.48
Mass: 20

I guess what could had happen is that I was falling asleep when I was doing the measurement... Or the worst would be that all of them are counterfeits

I guess all roubles are genuine (except that from the picture)... differences in planchets exists, and tolerances as well...

Would you believe if this is actually the reverse of this odd coin?

What about the edge inscription? Is it perfect?

The edge inscription is perfect - all the fonts are what it is supposed to be except that it seems the font is slightly larger* and spread out much wider than the other rubles. But again, this is due to the slightly larger size of the coin I guess...

*Sorry, made a typo

Another consideration to take into account is these were made in rather primitive conditions during a rather harsh time early in the USSR. It might be interesting to compare their production to those roubles that were minted in London.

Really looks like rusty die, like Trantor3 said. I can't figure out any other explanation.
Though I have never seen a chinese fake of this type - as far as I can trust my limited fake detecting skills



Interesting indeed, they made no roubles in London, only poltinniks

Right, but still an interesting comparison nonetheless.

I don't see any reason for the Chinese to counterfeit this type.

Right now they are counterfeiting common date Morgan dollars.

Those are much easier to sell.

People don't really look at the common dates, so yes they are easier to pawn off as the real thing. Smart move on the part of some enterprising lad in Kwangtung Province.