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The kopek or kopeck (Russian: копейка, IPA: [kɐˈpʲejkə], Ukrainian: копійка, Belarusian: капейка) is or was a coin or a currency unit of a number of countries in Eastern Europe closely associated with the economy of Russia. It is usually the smallest denomination within a currency system; 100 kopeks are worth 1 ruble or 1 hryvnia.
Originally, the kopek was the currency unit of Imperial Russia and then the Soviet Union (as the Soviet ruble). As of 2020, it is the currency unit of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The Russian kopek is also used in two regions of Georgia, the partially recognised states (including by Russia) of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the past, several other countries influenced by Russia and the Soviet Union had currency units that were also named kopeks. The name of the coin of Azerbaijan comes from the word kopek – qapik, (Azerbaijani: qəpik, 1⁄100 manat).
No country's kopek is currently subdivided, although the denga (½ kopek) and polushka (¼ kopek) were minted off and on for centuries, until the fall of the Romanov dynasty.
Origins
The word kopek, kopeck, copeck, or kopeyka (in Russian: копейка, kopeyka) is a diminutive form of the Russian kop'yo (копьё) — a spear[citation needed]. The first kopek coins, minted at Novgorod and Pskov from about 1534 onwards, show a horseman with a spear. From the 1540s on, the horseman bore a crown; doubtless the intention was to represent Ivan the Terrible, Grand Prince of all Russia until 1547, and tsar thereafter. Subsequent minting of the coin, starting in the 18th century, instead bore Saint George striking down a serpent with spear, hence kopek from kop'yo (копьё).
kopek of Feodor II, circa 1605
copper five-kopeks coin of Catherine II, 1783
Expressions
In French, kopek usually designates something of little value or interest: "cela ne vaut pas un kopek"
References
- The Free Dictionary. Farlex. 2011.
- Interinstitutional style guide. European Union. 2012. ISBN 978-92-78-40701-8.
- Merriam-Webster. Springfield: Merriam-Webster Inc. 2011.
- Добродомов И. Г. (1967). Некоторые вопросы изучения тюркизмов в русском языке (Вопросы лексики и грамматики русского языка ed.). М.
- Центральный банк Азербайджанской республики (Официальный сайт ed.). 2010.