By Christina Goldman | March 30, 2010 Serious collectors collect gold and silver coins from a multitude of countries and time periods. Some of the most popular coins in many investor portfolios are the pre-1920 Russian gold coins . Russian Imperial gold coins, available in years from 1897 to 1909, are considered to be a solid and safe investment. Whether gold coins were issued as rubles, multiples of rubles, or in older versions of gold called ducats, novodels or gold kopeks, the demand for Russian gold coin samples has always outweighed supply. Pre-1912 era Russian gold coins are generally available in denominations of five rubles, 10 rubles, and 15 rubles. Some of the more favored pure Russian gold coins include but are not limited to: Alexander III – Gold 10 Markkaa 1882 Nicholas II – Gold 20 Markkaa 1912 Nicholas II – five rubles 1897 Nicolas II – five rubles 1898 Nicolas II – five rubles, 1900 Measuring anywhere 18 mm with a .1244 gold content, the five rubles minted between 18