What is the value of a 5 Roubles gold coin today?
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5 Roubles price history
Intrinsic value based on the gold price
How much does a 5 Roubles gold coin weigh?
The 5 Roubles coin has a total weight of 4.3013 grams. This weight includes the coin's complete alloy.
Taking its purity of 900‰ (90.0%) into account, this coin contains exactly 3.8712 grams of pure gold.
What is the purity of a 5 Roubles gold coin?
The 5 Roubles coin has a purity of 900 thousandths, i.e. 90.0% fine gold.
This purity is characteristic of coins struck in Russia between 1897-1911. The rest of the alloy (10.0%) is generally composed of copper to strengthen the coin's durability.
Obverse
The 5 roubles in Russian imperial gold comes in two main types under the reigns of Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II. It is important to distinguish these historical issues from Soviet and modern strikes.
Issues under Alexander III (1886–1894)
Iconography: Bears the right-facing profile of Alexander III, characterised by a vigorous portrait and a full beard typical of the era.
Legends: Surrounded by an inscription in Cyrillic characters mentioning the name and official title of the Emperor.
Issues under Nicholas II (1897–1911) – Witte Reform
Imperial portrait: Features the refined right-facing profile of Nicholas II, dressed in military uniform or civilian attire depending on the issue.
Cyrillic inscriptions: Bears the legend Б.М. НИКОЛАЙ II ИМПЕРАТОРЪ И САМОДЕРЖЕЦЪ ВСЕРОСС. ("By the Grace of God, Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias").
Mint marks and varieties: Struck mainly at the Saint Petersburg mint (Monny Dvor). The initials of the mint masters (such as Felix Zaleman or Alexander Redko) appear below the profile or inscribed on the edge.
Reverse
The reverse of the imperial 5 roubles features the double-headed eagle, the majestic heraldic emblem of the Romanov dynasty and symbol of the power of the Russian Empire.
Heraldic composition and engraving
Imperial double-headed eagle: The two-headed bird is surmounted by three imperial crowns. Its talons hold the sceptre and the globus cruciger, symbols of autocracy.
Central coat of arms: The eagle's breast bears the shield of Moscow depicting Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon, surrounded by the collar of the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky.
Provincial coats of arms: The outstretched wings display the escutcheons of the great kingdoms and principalities incorporated into the Empire (Kazan, Astrakhan, Poland, Siberia, Georgia, Finland).
Inscriptions, edge and technical details
Legend and face value: The denomination 5 РУБЛЕЙ (5 Roubles) and the year of minting surround or border the lower part of the design.
Manufacture and edge: Struck almost exclusively at the Saint Petersburg mint, the coin features a beaded rim and an edge engraved with raised ornaments or the initials of the mint master.
Design stability: Across the series resulting from the 1897 monetary reform, the design remains very consistent, with only subtle variations in the relief of the crowns or the feathering.
Versions and mintage
5 Roubles - Nicholas II
History of the 5 roubles gold coin
The 5 roubles gold coin is part of a rich imperial monetary tradition. Its defining period corresponds to the major monetary reform carried out between 1895 and 1897 by Sergei Witte, Finance Minister to Tsar Nicholas II, who pegged the rouble to the international gold standard.
Metric specifications and mintage
Composition and fineness: Gold alloy at 900 thousandths (90% gold, 10% copper).
Metrology: Gross weight of 4.301 grams with a fine gold content of 3.87 grams. Compact diameter of 18.5 mm.
Major mintages (1897–1911): Struck in tens of millions of examples by the Saint Petersburg Mint, principally between 1897 and 1900, ensuring its wide availability on the European market.
Break of 1917: The Bolshevik Revolution brought imperial strikes to an end. Subsequent Soviet issues belong to the realm of collectible numismatics rather than mass investment.
Price history of the 5 roubles gold coin over the last twenty years (2005 to 2026)
Representing approximately one-eighth of a troy ounce (3.87 g of fine gold), the imperial 5 roubles sees its valuation strictly tied to the movement of the world gold price.
Price and premium history
2005–2011: Following the rise of the yellow metal from $400 to $1,900/oz, its metal value climbed from €50 to over €200 at the 2011 peak.
2012–2018: A consolidation phase allowing accumulation at stabilised prices.
2019–2026: Supported by gold's push beyond $2,000, $2,500 and then $3,000/oz, the 5 roubles crossed the €300 threshold on its intrinsic value alone.
Premium structure: Moderate premium (5% to 15%) on the most common dates (1897–1901); very high numismatic premiums on rare mintages from Alexander III or from 1911.
Why invest in the 5 roubles gold coin?
The imperial 5 roubles gold coin is an ideal accumulation coin for savers seeking excellent wealth granularity.
Strategic advantages and liquidity
Optimal fractioning: Its small format (3.87 g of fine gold) allows modest sums to be invested and purchases to be spread out without committing the capital required for a full ounce.
Historical and European anchor: Highly sought after by collectors of imperial Russian coins and very liquid with specialist dealers in Eastern and Central Europe.
Accumulation advice: Favour the abundant dates of the Witte reform (1897–1901) to benefit from the lowest premium above the spot price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the history of the 5 Roubles Or under the reign of Tsar Nicholas II?
Struck between 1897 and 1911 by the Saint Petersburg Mint, this coin is part of the major monetary reform led by Finance Minister Sergei Witte.
By linking the Rouble to the gold standard, the Russian Empire issued these coins to facilitate international trade with Europe.
The obverse bears the profile of the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, and the reverse features the majestic arms of the Empire (the Imperial double-headed Eagle).
Does the 5 Roubles Or belong to the Latin Monetary Union system?
Technically no, because Russia never officially joined the Latin Union. However, during the monetary reform of 1897, the gold content of the 5 Roubles was adjusted to correspond exactly to that of 13.33 Francs coins.
Although it was not exchanged at par with a 20 Francs Napoléon, its gold weight and purity standard adhered to very similar benchmarks, facilitating financial exchanges between Paris and Saint Petersburg.
Why does the 5 Roubles Or often benefit from a premium above the simple gold spot price?
Unlike French or British gold coins struck in tens of millions of examples and later reissued, a large part of the Tsarist gold coins were melted down during the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the civil war that followed.
The surviving examples that have come down to us are rarer. The coin therefore combines its status as investment gold (VAT-exempt) with a very strong numismatic and historical interest among collectors.
How does the 5 Roubles compare to the 7,5 Roubles or 10 Roubles Gold?
The 5 Roubles is the most accessible denomination in the tsarist range in terms of unit price, containing an ideal quantity of fine gold for capital splitting.
The 7.5 Roubles and 10 Roubles denominations (as well as the rare 15 Roubles) contain more pure gold and display sometimes very high numismatic premiums.
The 5 Roubles remains the best compromise in the category for an investor wishing to combine precious metal and Russian history.
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