Beneath Your Feet: Russia

"Most people dream of discovering treasure, forgetting about the daily grind and spending the rest of their lives on a tropical island. Even if you never find a trunk of pirate gold, treasure hunting can actually be a stable source of income.

Russia is one of the best places for uncovering hidden treasure. As a result of the country’s many wars, revolutions and economic crises, the number of caches stashed away for a rainy day under floorboards or in tins in the attic is truly mind-boggling. Vladimir Poryvayev, a long-time treasure hunter, says that in the late 1990s, he found a sack full of diamonds. He says he had been looking for it on behalf of some people who had heard stories of treasures from their grandparents."

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: ITAR-TASS

Russian Farmer Digs Gold

"A Russian turnip farmer who hoped to get rich by buying a metal detector to look for hidden treasure dug up a hoard of gold jewelery worth more than 1 million GBP.

But dozy Gennady Zimin, 51, from Annenkov said he thought the trinkets were junk, and asked a pal to put them on ebay for 50GBP.

He said: 'I got the metal detector second hand. I had always heard local talk of treasure around here but I would have been happy with some scrap metal.'"

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: europics.at

Russian "Black Diggers" Hitting Historical Sites

Translated Text


"'In recent years they have been invaded by dozens of ancient tombs and forts, has become involved in and our republic. Most often, looters take interesting decorations, medieval coins, and those things which in their opinion less valuable - they throw. It implements, household some things. And the worst - broken statue. Lose information that could pull out.'- said the deputy director of the main activities of Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve of Udmurtia, Idnakar Andrew Kirillov.

They usually have diggers 'in service' excellent metal detectors that can see the precious metals in the soil to a depth of a meter. Does not care about history, looters take out all the values of the most barbaric ways. There were cases and digging shovels. In this case, none of the perpetrators not only delay, but to punish so far failed."

Read original article in Russian HERE.
Translated article available HERE.

Weekly World Coin Post: RUSSIA

This week is all about coinage from Russia, previously the U.S.S.R. I don't have anything super old from here, but I do have a bunch share you with you regardless.

The current Russian currency is the Rouble. One Rouble is worth roughly $0.03 in USD. The country has used the Ruble as it's currency over many years, even through prior political regimes. Also, one Rouble can be broken up into 100 Kopeks.

A great history on the Russian Ruble can be found HERE.

So let's get into the coins. In the images above are the same coins, just front and back. So for my purposes in description, we are talking about the top image.

TOP ROW LEFT TO RIGHT:

1998 2 Roubles Copper-Nickel-Zinc 23mm
1990 2 Kopeks Brass 18mm
1984 2 Kopeks Brass 18mm
1992 1 Rouble Brass Clad Steel 19.5mm
1998 1 Rouble Copper-Nickel-Zinc 20.6mm
1980 1 Kopek Brass 15.05mm
1998 1 Kopek Nickel 15.54mm St. George

BOTTOM ROW LEFT TO RIGHT:

1987 15 Kopeks Copper-Nickel-Zinc 19.5mm
1998 10 Roubles Copper-Nickel Clad Copper
1999 10 Kopeks Brass St. George
1980 10 Kopeks Copper-Nickel-Zinc 17.35mm
1990 5 Kopeks Aluminum-Bronze 25.1mm
1971 3 Kopeks Aluminum-Bronze 22.05mm

So there is my Russian coin collection. Not to vast, but neat. Be sure to check out the link on St. George, he's depicted on many of their coins after 1998. And as always, click on the pics above to view larger, more detailed versions.