# Altyn

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For other uses, see [Altyn (disambiguation)](/source/Altyn_(disambiguation)).

**Altyn** ([Russian](/source/Russian_language) алты́н, also none: алты́нник) is a [historical Russian currency](/source/Historical_Russian_currency) (symbol: ). The name in [Tatar](/source/Tatar_language) is *altın* (алтын) meaning "gold",[1] and *altı* (алты) meaning "six", since it was worth six *[dengi](/source/Denga)*, equivalent to three [kopeck](/source/Kopeck) silver, then copper, a small value coin,[2][3] or 180–206 copper [puls](/source/Pul_(coin)).[4]

## History

From the 14th century, the altyn had been in use in several [Russian principalities](/source/Russian_principalities) as a [Eurasian](/source/Eurasia) currency between Russian and Asian traders.[5] Treaties between the principalities of [Moscow](/source/Principality_of_Moscow), [Ryazan](/source/Principality_of_Ryazan) and [Tver](/source/Principality_of_Tver) show that the rate remained the same.[6] One altyn was equal to six *[dengi](/source/Denga)*, while one [ruble](/source/Russian_ruble) was equal to 200 (in Moscow) or 220 (in Pskov) *dengi*.[6] In the [*Sudebnik* of 1497](/source/Sudebnik_of_1497), one ruble was equal to 200 *dengi*, while one altyn was equal to six *dengi*.[7]

They were minted from 1654 under [Alexis I](/source/Alexis_I_of_Russia), and under [Peter I](/source/Peter_I_of_Russia) as silver coins from 1704 to 1718. Peter began minting silver ruble coins in 1704 and made the ruble the first [decimal currency](/source/Decimalisation); the altyn was equal to three [kopecks](/source/Kopeck).[8][9] Later, they were revived under [Nicholas I](/source/Nicholas_I_of_Russia) as copper coins with a value of three kopecks from 1839. While the name *altyn* eventually got lost, three-kopeck coins circulated in Russia until 1991.[10]

In the 2010s, the [Eurasian Economic Commission](/source/Eurasian_Economic_Commission) drafted first proposals to revive the altyn by 2025 as a common currency of the [Eurasian Economic Union](/source/Eurasian_Economic_Union). The [international sanctions](/source/International_sanctions_during_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine) against Russia reportedly encouraged the bloc to expedite the process by 3–5 years but to no avail.[10] As of December 2025, the currency had still not been re-introduced in any capacity.

## See also

- [Glossary of Russian currency](/source/Glossary_of_Russian_currency)

## References

1. Этимологический словарь русского языка. — М.: Прогресс. М. Р. Фасмер. 1964—1973.

1. Спасский, И. Г. Алтын в русской денежной системе. / В кн.: Краткие сообщения Института истории материальной культуры АН СССР, вып. 66. — 1956.

1. Спасский, И. Г. Русская монетная система. — Л.: Аврора, 1970. — с. 105.

1. Eric R. Schena, “[The Influence of Islamic Coins on the Russian Monetary System: An Introduction](http://islamiccoinsgroup.50g.com/ArtRussian.htm)”, As-Sikka: The Online Journal of The Islamic Coins Group, 1, no. 2 (1999-2000)[dead link], August 2004

1. Feldbrugge 2017, p. 1015.

1. Feldbrugge 2017, p. 461.

1. Feldbrugge 2017, pp. 985, 1015.

1. Snodgrass 2019, p. 239.

1. Gouzévitch & Gouzévitch 2009, p. 358.

1. Sudakov, Dmitry (2014-04-10). ["Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus to have new joint currency"](http://english.pravda.ru/russia/economics/10-04-2014/127325-russia_kazakhstan_belarus_new_currency-0/). *[Pravda.ru](/source/Pravda.ru)*. Retrieved 2015-01-06.

## Sources

- Feldbrugge, Ferdinand J. M. (2 October 2017). [*A History of Russian Law: From Ancient Times to the Council Code (Ulozhenie) of Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich of 1649*](https://books.google.com/books?id=TDI9DwAAQBAJ). BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-35214-8.
- Gouzévitch, Irina & Gouzévitch, Dmitri (2009). ["Introducing mathematics, building an empire: Russia under Peter I"](https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_the_History_of_Ma/xZMSDAAAQBAJ). *The Oxford Handbook of the History of Mathematics*. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-921312-2.
- Snodgrass, Mary Ellen (25 July 2019). [*Coins and Currency: An Historical Encyclopedia, 2d ed.*](https://books.google.com/books?id=e7ylDwAAQBAJ). McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-3665-8.
- Uzdennikov V., Монеты России (1700—1917) [Coins of Russia (1700–1917)]: Издание третье. — М.: Collector’s Books; IP Media Inc., 2004.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Altyn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altyn) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altyn?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.