Every kopek from 1547 to 2024
The goal of this project is to provide the most comprehensive picture possible of all the changes the kopeck currency has undergone within Russia's territory and sphere of influence over the history of the kopeck denomination.
The word «kopek», denoting a small change coin, appeared in 1535 during the monetary reform carried out by Elena Glinskaya (mother of Ivan the Terrible).
Throughout its 500 — year history, the Russian kopek has undergone various transformations: it has been made of copper, silver, alloy, and even paper. The purchasing power of the kopek has also varied greatly: while in the 18th century one could live on it for a day, today it won't even buy a box of matches.
How has the kopek — Russia's smallest monetary unit — changed throughout its history, and what was happening in the world during that time?
