Communism was defined as a stateless, classless and moneyless society, money has played an important role in the USSR since its creation. Circulation of foreign currency was strictly prohibited in the land of workers and peasants, and some illegal traders were sentenced to death for breaking the rules.
However, Soviet citizens working abroad received hard currency substitutes to be used in special limited access stores. The portrait of Vladimir Lenin has been depicted on many Soviet banknotes that often caused criticism for desacralizing the image of the leader, as money was perceived something filthy and despicable.
Poet Andrei Voznesensky published in 1967 a poem titled "Remove Lenin from the Money" which became very popular.
One Ruble silver coin, 1924
Twenty Five Thousand Rubles banknote, 1923
USSR Bank for Foreign Trade One Hundred Rubles travellers check, 1980s
20th Anniversary of the First Human Space Flight. Y.A.Gagarin. One Ruble coin, 1981
XXII Moscow Olympic Games Ten Rubles commemorative coin, 1980
One Ruble banknote, 1938
Vneshposyltorg Two Kopeks check, 1976
60th Anniversary of October Revolution One Ruble coin, 1977
USSR Bank for Foreign Trade Twenty Five Rubles check, 1970
Post-Soviet visual. Gena the Crocodile commemorative silver coin, 2020
Five Rubles banknote, 1925
Three Chervonets Banknote, 1937
Five Rubles test coin, 1958
50th Anniversary of October Revolution Ten Kopeks coin, 1967
Three Rubles banknote, 1961
USSR Bank for Foreign Trade checkbook for seamen, 1978
USSR Bank for Foreign Trade One Ruble Check, 1978
Post-Soviet visual. Kalashnikov commemorative coin set by Sberbank, Russia, 2019
The trial of Moscow currency dealers Yan Rokotov, Vladislav Faibishenko and Dmitry Yakovlev, 1961.