Obverse: the obverse of the coin features the early state emblem of the Soviet Union – a globe bearing the hammer and sickle, surrounded by ears of wheat, with a rising sun below and a five-pointed star above. The stylised letters “СССР” appear on either side of the emblem. The denomination “ОДИН РУБЛЬ” (English: “One Rouble”) is displayed in the centre, while the inscription around the edge reads “ПРОЛЕТАРИИ ВСЕХ СТРАН, СОЕДИНЯЙТЕСЬ!” (English: “Workers of the world, unite!”).
Reverse: the reverse depicts two men – a worker and a peasant, representing one of the most important ideological themes of the early Soviet Union: the alliance between workers and peasants. The worker has one arm around the peasant and points into the distance with the other, towards a rising sun and industrial buildings. The peasant holds a sickle, while working implements are depicted beside him. The composition symbolises collective labour, industrialisation and the construction of the new state. The year “1924 г.” appears at the bottom.
About the coin: the 1924 1 Rouble is one of the best-known early silver circulation coins of the Soviet Union. It was struck from .900 fine silver, weighs 20 g, contains 18 g of pure silver and has a diameter of 33.5 mm. The edge bears an inscription indicating the amount of pure silver together with the initials of the mint official. Varieties with different edge initials are known and are of particular interest to collectors. The striking worker-and-peasant design strongly reflects Soviet political symbolism of the 1920s, making this coin desirable not only for its silver content but also for its historical and numismatic significance.
