Reverse: On top, the building of the Bolshoi Theater and “225”. Along the rim, “BOLSHOI THEATER”. In the center, five actors performing a scene from the 4th act of the opera “Life for the Tsar” (“Ivan Soussanin”). Along the rim at the bottom, “Ivan Soussanin”.

Obverse: In the center, the Emblem of the Bank of Russia (the two-headed eagle), with the semicircular inscription “Bank of Russia” framed by a circle of dots. At the top, “Three Roubles”. At the bottom, the metal sign, the fineness, the year of issue, the fine metal content, and the mint mark.

The Imperial Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow (the Bolshoi Theatre's original name) was founded in 1776 by Prince Peter Urussov and Michael Maddox.

The opera “Life for the Tsar” (“Ivan Soussanin”) is based upon a legend about the heroic deed of a Kostroma peasant during the Polish invasion of 1612.