That’s right – if you haven’t heard the news, 10 ruble notes, also known as десятки, are going out of style. Beginning in 2010, they will be phased out of circulation and replaced by coins.

Also mentioned in this article on the subject are the 1 kopeck coins, which are next to worthless. When I studied in Volgograd, my friends and I would look for them on the street, like Russian 4 leaf clovers! (so tiny and cute!) It was the only place we could really find them. If owed a few kopecks as change, you are more likely to receive a piece of candy or gum instead.