Ten roubles, a tenner (monetary unit). The term stems from the Polish word czerwony złoty meaning “red gold” (a high value gold coin). The name was initially used for gold coins (3.46 g of gold, nominative value of 3 roubles) and was picked in 1922 to name a gold-based soviet currency at the rate of one chervonets for ten imperial gold roubles. Diminutive: чирик.
Сегодня нашел в кладовке около 500 рублей червонцами из далекого детства. Скока ж можно было купить то в то время… пипец)
Today I found in the closet around 500 roubles in tenners from my distant childhood. How much you could have bought with them in that time… blimey.
(Alex @ twitter, 05/2010)