Civilian and Political Items
of the Late Soviet Period
(1979-1991)

 

 

Life During the Late Soviet Period

No discussion about a nations military can be complete without showing the civilian life of the time. This is especially true of the rapidly changing times of the late Soviet era when the nation went from stagnation under Brezhnev, to the more open policies of Gorbachiev.  This section will try to give the reader a glimpse of what life was like during the late Soviet era between 1979 and 1991.

 

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Graduation Badges

Here we have a selection of higher academy badges from the 1970's and 1980's.  The four sided versions (rhomb) were generally for higher level institutes than the six sided ones.  There were many different types of badges covering different educational specialties ranging from music, to agriculture, to mining.

Agriculture Mining Pedagogical Medical

 

 

Soviet 5 Ruble Note (1991)

This five ruble note was one of the last banknotes issued by the Soviet government before its collapse in late 1991.

 

 

 

Soviet 3 Ruble Note (1991)
 

This three ruble note was one of the last banknotes issued by the Soviet government before its collapse in late 1991.

 

 

 

One Ruble Banknote

Here is the last pattern Soviet banknote for the One Ruble denomination.

 

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Western Music Record

These reforms of Perestroika led to increased trade with the West.  Many everyday Russians could now afford to get foreign goods whenever they were available.  This record from 1990 is one example.  It is the first album of the American singer Paula Abdul.

The bottom picture shows that the record cost three and a half rubles at the time.  This is most interesting as the same record would have cost $14 in the United States.

 

 

 

Misha the Bear Olympic Pin (1980)

This pin depicts the official mascot of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics - Misha.  It was the creation of Soviet  illustrator Victor Chizhikov.  The mascot was very popular and highly successful in representing the Summer Games. 

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1979 Five Ruble Olympic Commemorative

This is a silver five ruble Olympic commemorative coin 1979.

The front of the coin depicts a weightlifter, a building, and the Olympic logo.  The writing mentions the 22nd Olympics, Moscow, 1980.

The reverse shows the state seal and the letters CCCP.  Below this is the denomination of five rubles.

  

 

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1979's Silver Tone Alloy Kopek

These examples show a twenty kopek coin minted during the Brezhnev administration in 1979.  These coins continued the 1960's pattern of being composed of silver-grey metal alloy, as if to recall the actual silver used in Imperial coins of these denominations.

The front of the coin has a large number '20' denoting the denomination with the work 'kopeks' and the year of minting below.  These are flanked by two sheaves of wheat.

The reverse shows the state seal and the letters CCCP.

  

 

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1979 Copper Tone Alloy Kopek

These examples show a one kopek coin minted in 1979.  During this period these coins continued to be  composed of copper colored metal alloy, as if to recall the actual copper used in Imperial coins of these denominations.

The front of the coin has a large number '1' denoting the denomination with the work 'kopek' and the year of minting below.  These are flanked by two sheaves of wheat.

The reverse shows the state seal and the letters CCCP.

  

 

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