Halved field with the State Emblem of the Soviet Union (first version, 1923–1936) in upper half and value (one rouble) in lower. USSR state motto "Workers of the world, unite!" is around.

The State Emblem of the Soviet Union is composed of a sickle and a hammer on a globe depicted in the rays of the sun and framed by ears of wheat wrapped around a ribbon with 7 turns. At the top of the Emblem is a five-pointed star.

An allegorical painting "New Life", where the rising sun spread its rays over the factory building and a young worker shows a tired peasant direction of the right path. The old peasant wears a beard and is hunched over slightly. He leans on a farm tool with his right hand, and holds a sickle in his left; behind him is a farm. The young worker is clean shaven and has his arm around the old worker. The whole picture is telling that the future greatness of the Soviet Union will come through industrialization.

There are two variations:
— Factory has rectangular windows and long chimney, worker's fingers are collected together
— Factory has square windows and short chimney, worker's fingers are separated (rare)

Type 1 (with and without dot in the mint master mark):
— ЧИСТОГО СЕРЕБРА 18 ГРАММ (4 3. 21 Д.) П•Л
— ЧИСТОГО СЕРЕБРА 18 ГРАММ (4 3. 21 Д.) П Л
Translation: Pure silver 18 grams (4 zolotniks 21 parts)

Type 2:
— ЧИСТОГО СЕРЕБРА 4 ЗОЛОТНИКА 21 ДОЛЯ (А•Г)
Translation: Pure silver 4 zolotniks 21 parts

Mint masters marks:
П•Л — Pyotr Latyshev
А•Г — A. F. Hartman

The fine weight is written in grams for the type 1 or in old Russian unit of weight zolotnik for the type 2. Text for the type 2 is written as Russian vyaz (type of Cyrillic ornate lettering).

A zolotnik was a small Russian unit of weight, equal to 0.1505 avoirdupois ounces, or 4.2658 grams. Used from the 10th to 20th centuries, its name is derived from the Russian word zoloto, meaning gold. As a unit, the zolotnik was the standard for silver manufacture, much as the troy ounce is currently used for gold and other precious metals. This unit was originally based on a coin of the same name. The zolotnik circulated in the Kievan Rus until the 11th century; it was equal in weight to the Byzantine Empire's solidus.