I'm new here at the forum, and I'm just getting into collecting Russian coins (pre-Soviet period). It seems to be a little difficult coming across information on how to get started. I've found a couple of websites, but there don't seem to be many dealing with the topic, and I'm definitely unsure about books. I'm not totally new to coin-collecting, as I've done a good bit of U.S. and some Canadian collecting, so I understand the basics, such as minting quantities, grading, etc. If anyone could give me any tips to help me start on this new focus, I'd greatly appreciate it. Scott
@TheNoost: I'll have to get that download. I'll have to do it when I have a good bit of time, though. I think it was like 2 gigs! @Jim: That's cool, I don't really care which thread the help comes in.
Let me ask a couple more question for the Russian collectors out there: What are some common ways to collect? Tsars? Mintmarks? Also, What are the Russian mintmarks and what do they stand for? I've read that they have mintmarks, but I'd definitely love to know more about them.
Some folks go for specific denominations. I'm not really big into Russian coins but did purchase and 1848 Silver Rouble, which has been sent to NGC for slabbing, as an "investiment" coin. Maybe not such a great investiment but I liked the coin... collect what is pleasing to you.
There is one good Russian coin forum (+articles, links etc.) on CoinPeople.com: http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php?showforum=11 Here in Finland collecting Russian coins is quite common because of the common history. Even old Finnish markka coins' prices are high* since Russian collectors started to collect Finnish coins minted under Tsar 1864-1917. *This is only one reason - the second and most effective (I think) is the introduce of euro coinage. New collectors started with euros but want to enlarge their hobby to old national currencies.
Interesting link, Trp. I looked around a bit, and there certainly seems to be some useful information. In fact, I found a post that tells about some of the mints and mintmarks.
Krause is NOT a good reference book for Imperial Russian coins. Prices are totally outdated and unrealistic and the varieties are well detailed. As I have nentioned in the other post, a reasonable and affordable reference book would be Uzdenikov's.
You can try collecting by metal (only gold, only silver or copper). There are separate reference books for coins in each metal. Some collect by denomination. I am among those since I focus on Roubles, which is challenging enough if you try to go for better grades. Some collect by Emperors. There are reference books by ruler, thought I remember those only in Russian. If you read Russian you choice of numismatic literature would be much bigger. It's not too difficult to start by collecting a set from 1/4 Kopeck to a Rouble of any year of a particular ruler from Nickolas II, going back in time to Peter I. Then you could expand to commemorative Roubles, or to major types of coins of a ruler or to trying to get full range of years of certain denominations of a particular ruler. Sky is the limit to where you could develop you collection. It's important to start. Good luck!
I can read a little Russian, but I'm quite slow, and still dependent on dictionary for a lot of things. That said, I'm trying to learn Russian, so I might consider Russian books. I don't think I'll limit myself to only this, but I do think I'll try to collect coins from the reign of Nikolai II. He and his family are probably the most interesting people in Russian history to me (Another of my interests).
Before you buy the right books you can download (free) electronic versions of Uzdenikov's book (3rd edition in Russian) and the price guide from the auction house Conros in St.Petersburg (11th edition in Russian and English). Both books describe the major variants, but you can find more specialized editions after you decide on the area of collecting. I share these links in the presumption that if you find these publications useful you'll buy the printed books themselves. http://depositfiles.com/en/files/mu8zar8s1 http://depositfiles.com/en/files/uqecbw1yq
