Glossary of Russian currency

Decimal The decimal currency in Russia was introduced by Peter the Great during

Names of many of the coins are traced from older times. Kopeck Denga, polkopeiki = 1/2 kopeck Polushka = 1/2 denga Altyn = 3 kopeck Grivennik = 10 kopeck Pyatialtynny = 15 kopeck coin literally "5 altyn coin" Dvugrivenny = 20 kopeck, literally "two-grivennik coin" (polupoltina, polupoltinnik = 1/2 poltina = 25 kopeck Poltinnik, Poltina = 1/2 ruble or 50 kopeck Ruble = 100 kopeck Chervonets = 10 rubles

Old currency Grivna, cf. Polish grzywna Imperial = 10 rubles Half-imperial (poluimperial) = 5 rubles , Russian term for West European silver coins; derived from "Joachimsthaler": the name Efim is Russian for "Joachim".

Non-Russian Grosh = Groschen, see :ru:Грош. Various Groschen, e.g., Polish grosz. In 18th century "grosh" ha come to mean 2-kopeck coin. Hence the sayings expressing low value of something: "грош им цена" (literally "worth a grosh", i.e., "not worth a dime"),грош цена "пропадешь ни за грош" (you will die not even for a grosh), etc.пропасть ни за грош

See also Slang terms for money#Russia References