The stamps of the first definitive issue of the USSR, whose denominations were given in gold currency, went into circulation on 11 October 1923. Their release was connected with the transition to a gold-backed currency. The stamp design was based on the sculpture “Worker” by I. D. Shadr and matched that of the stamp of the fourth definitive issue of the RSFSR of 1923. However, the series also had distinguishing features. The word “post” was absent from the stamps. All stamps bore the new abbreviation “USSR”. The denominations were indicated in the gold equivalent (“… kopeks in gold”)—a hard currency that replaced the unstable ruble exchange rate; hence the philatelic name of this issue.
1 Kopeck gold 1923.
1st Issue of the USSR.
