Ruble facts for kids
The ruble is a type of money, also called a currency unit. It is used in some countries in Eastern Europe. Long ago, the ruble was the money of Imperial Russia. Later, it became the money for the Soviet Union.
Today, the ruble is the official money in Russia (called the Russian ruble) and Belarus (called the Belarusian ruble). The Russian ruble is also used in two smaller regions: Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In the past, other countries that were close to Russia or the Soviet Union also used money called rubles. One ruble is divided into 100 smaller coins called kopeks.
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Contents
Understanding the Ruble
What is a Currency Unit?
A currency unit is the basic building block of a country's money system. For example, the dollar is the currency unit for the United States. The ruble is the currency unit for Russia and Belarus.
Where Did the Ruble Come From?
The word "ruble" comes from an old Russian word. It means a piece of a silver bar. In the past, people would cut pieces from silver bars to use as money. This is how the ruble got its name.
Ruble's History in Russia
The ruble has a very long history in Russia. It has been used for hundreds of years. Over time, its value and appearance have changed many times. Different emperors and governments have issued their own versions of the ruble.
From Empire to Modern Day
The ruble was first used in the Russian Empire. This was a large country ruled by an emperor or empress. After the empire ended, the Soviet Union was formed. The Soviet Union also used its own ruble. When the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, Russia and other new countries started using their own money. Russia continued to use the ruble, but it became the "Russian ruble."
Images for kids
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500 Belarusian rubles from 2009. This is the largest banknote used in Belarus today.
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Russian rubles – banknotes of 1000 and 5000 rubles.
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A five hundred ruble note from 1912. It shows Peter the Great and a symbol of Mother Russia.
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The back of an 1898 Russian Empire one ruble note. It shows how much gold it was worth.
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A large copper ruble coin from 1771, made during the time of Catherine II. It is one of the biggest copper coins ever made.
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A 25 ruble banknote from 1769. These were early paper money.
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The front of an 1898 Russian Empire one ruble banknote.
