1961 USSR coin set

[villa66]

After becoming aware of the apparent scarcity—and apparent market—for some of the Russian minors of the Soviet era, I decided to retrieve this 1961 mint/bank set from the trash pile and reassemble it. (I had removed the 50-kopek and 1-rouble and added them to my collection, and was on the verge of pulling the unneeded 1- thru 20-kopek pieces out and throwing the cardboard holder away. Just hadn’t gotten around to doing it.)

But these sets didn’t seem like anything particularly special. The construction “...in circulation since 1961” made it sound like these sets were put together after the fact, and the appearance of the coins—although all were dated 1961—seemed to confirm that inference. (To my eyes they look almost as if they had been “reprocessed” in somewhat the same fashion as so many of the 1943 American steel cents.)

Can anyone say whether these sets were actually assembled in 1961? Or were they put together sometime later?

Has anyone ever heard whether any of the coins in these (1961) sets were officially “reconditioned?”

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[ciscoins]

I think it was not too wise to destroy this set because of the two coins, because its value at the moment is not less than USD 150.

These sets were made in 1961, after the reform, to show the new coins to foreign banks (and maybe collectors). These were the first mint sets in the history of the USSR.

[villa66]

...I decided to retrieve this 1961 mint/bank set from the trash pile and reassemble it....

It'll be back together by the weekend. It's just a matter of taking the 50-kopek and 1-rouble from their new holders and returning them to their old homes. It all slips together quite informally, without any seals to break.

But no idea about whether the coins in these sets were reconditioned? Their surfaces seem...odd. Guess maybe I'll carry them as proof-like, and chalk their appearance up to the mint's learning curve.

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[gxseries]

It's probably better to leave it as it is. You can put the coins away in a 2x2 but they are more valuable if presented in such set. Let's say, you might be able to get a UNC set of 1961 coins for about 50 dollars but with the cardboard, it's more than 150+. Surprise surprise. There was a seller that salvaged a similar 1961 set as the cardboard set was damaged but that's what he got instead of the higher value.

Like what ciscoins wrote, these coin "sets" were distributed overseas to foreign banks to illustrate the new coinage as well as the old 1957 coinage.

The odd color you got on your coins might be due to toning in the cardboard.

[villa66]

...The odd color you got on your coins might be due to toning in the cardboard....

I thank you for your reply, gxseries--and read carefully the thread on the 1974 and related coins (including the excellent info on Soviet-era sets).

I wish I was better at photographing coins, so I could illustrate (what I think is) the odd appearance of these coins. The 50-kopek and 1-rouble are almost unnaturally bright. Which suggests a proof status I know, but it's almost like they had been plated after they were struck. The lower values also have an interesting appearance.

But maybe all this is a function of their intended use as bank exemplars.

I note that Krause offers an "issue price" for these sets; so apparently they were also offered to collectors?

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[gxseries]

I'm afraid I can't say much other than we need to see more photos to comment on it. As far as I know, while these sets are supposedly distributed to banks overseas, they were also distributed to collectors as well. The bank samples are supposedly a lot rarer but I have no idea what the differences are.

I have tried to obtain this set a few times but it was way more than what I budgeted on it although I spend a lot more on other "rubbish". I had this 1961 set for a while but I still have no idea if it's official - pretty sure it is.

[ciscoins]

I still have no idea if it's official - pretty sure it is.

Count the ribbons at the left side of the coat of arms. At this small picture I see only 6. And they must be 7.

I've never heard about such a set. If it was made for foreign countries, then the name of the country would be written in English or in two languages. And if it was official, there would be some token inside.

[villa66]

I was about to say how--despite its problems--how attractive a color the copper-nickel-zinc alloy presents. (So silver in appearance.) But then it occurred to me that part of my unease with the 50-kopek and 1-rouble in my 1961 set was that they looked somewhat chrome-like. Unfortunately I still have not dug them out to take a second look, and see whether perhaps I'm misremembering their color. Really got me curious.

Reading the exchange here about the number of ribbons sent me to the catalogs to count. I note the number of ribbons increased with the c.1948 issues, but then decreased with the 1957 issues (a format that continued with the 1961 coins). I don't remember a reduction in Soviet territory then--maybe some of the Republics were combined? Time to check the Net.

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[ciscoins]

I don't remember a reduction in Soviet territory then--maybe some of the Republics were combined? Time to check the Net.

The 16th republic became an autonomous part of RSFSR in 1956.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karelo-Finnish_Soviet_Socialist_Republic

[villa66]

Ah...thank you.

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[villa66]

Finally got the coins located and the set rehabilitated last night.

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[remtomcat]

$150-200 value

[villa66]

Thanks.

  v.