RUSSIA, SAKHA YAKUTIA 1993 ALDANZOLOTO 999 SILVER PROOF PAYMENT TOKEN. RARE.

 

Russian Federation, Sakha Yakutia 1993 Silver payment token issued by Aldanzoloto Mines as shown on the images. Minted as Proof in 999.9 Silver. 1/3 Oz. ASW. Diameter about 26 mm., Reeded edge.

1993 was a very difficult year in Russia (after dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991) with very high inflation (about 1000% in 1993) and high poverty levels. Many if not most companies of the time were unable to pay salaries on time due to low demand for their goods and luck of money on their accounts. Common delays in paying salaries were as high as 4-6 months or more. Some companies paid "salary" in whatever goods they manufactured, but not with the money. 

According to Russian (unofficial) sources Aldanzoloto being the oldest and one of the largest producers of gold and other precious metals in Yakutia, made series of (emergency) payment tokens in base metals, silver and gold and was giving them as a "salary" to be used as money for internal circulation inside the company and in some selected stores in Yakutia. Very few of these tokens were minted, even less survived. Silver tokens as this one are very rare, not to be missed.