The conversion of the monetary system in the USSR came to be called the Monetary reform of 1961 and called "the most humane" during the entire Soviet history. This reform was in fact denominational for Soviet citizens. For 10 "Stalin's" rubles were given 1 "Khrushchev's".
The exchange was subject to all the money - and banknotes, and coins - with the exception of copper denominations of 1, 2 and 3 kopecks, little money was in circulation and after the reform.
The weight of the coin is exactly 5 grams was chosen, this allowed to use coins as weights, and with a high accuracy to count large amounts of change just weighing it. Weight is equal to the face value of the coins 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopecks.
In the time of Soviet Union on 5 kopecks you might pass once by bus or by metro (subway), or by 5 boxes of matches. People gently called this coin "pyatak", "pyatachok" :-)
- 5 g weight
- 25 mm diameter
- 1.5 mm thickness
- material: bronze
- edge: ribbed
- 1961 year of chasing