Nominal value of postage stamps

We admire the artistic beauty of postage stamps, marvel at their thematic diversity, and marvel at the original forms and materials of miniatures. But there is another feature of postage stamps without which they are just a pretty picture. This is their face value.

So this time, let's talk about stamp denominations: why they are mandatory attributes and how to “read” them correctly, what types exist and are most commonly used. We will also explain why Ukrposhta refused to print certain denominations.

Types of denominations and whether you can do without them

On every postage stamp, you will definitely see numbers or large Latin letters. This is not a whim or a decorative technique, but a well-thought-out system. It is this code that reveals the practical significance of stamps — it indicates the cost of delivery services in the currency of the country they cover. Numbers and letters turn stamps into a working tool that can pay for the delivery of your letter or postcard.

The classic way of indicating the value of stamps is through numerical denominations, which clearly indicate the monetary equivalent in the national currency at the time of issue. Stamps with numerical denominations, such as “House with Chimeras” have a fixed value that will remain unchanged forever. Therefore, when rates increase, the sender will have to affix additional postage stamps to the envelope so that the amount corresponds to the cost of the delivery service.

Agree, it is not very convenient for senders to constantly count and stick stamps on envelopes, and for postal workers to check whether the amount paid corresponds to the current tariff. In order not to tie stamps to a specific cost of delivery, postal services in different countries decided to use letter denominations.

Read more:

The Most Expensive Stamps and Their Cost

What is Stamp Redemption?

How to Understand the Types of Stamps?

Where to buy postage stamps?

The letter values of stamps are a kind of “code” where Latin letters (H, U, M, D, F, and others) correspond to a specific postal rate or category of shipment. For example, as of 2025, the “Mova” stamp with the denomination ‘M’ (72 UAH) can be used for registered letters up to 50 g and regular letters weighing 50-250 g, while the "Heroic Professions. Bread at the сost of life“ with a denomination of U (24 UAH) always corresponds to the cost of delivery of a non-priority letter weighing up to 50 g within Ukraine, and the ”Heroic Professions. Iron Men" stamp with a denomination of W (1.8 USD) can be used to send non-priority letters weighing up to 50 g abroad.

By the way, a single sheet of postage stamps may contain stamps of different denominations, as in the series «You will do as the Witch says, enemy» — U+A. To quickly find stamps of a specific denomination on the Postmark website, use the convenient filter.

Letter vs. number denominations

Both number and letter denominations on postage stamps have their own logic — they just work for different scenarios.

Digital denominations are easy to understand because they clearly indicate the cost of the postage stamp at the time of printing. But this is precisely why they are vulnerable to tariff increases. If necessary, you can quickly calculate the total amount of several postage stamps: the denominations of the “Ukrainian Alphabet” and “Architect Vladyslav Horodetskyi 1863-1930” stamps are simple and understandable. But this is provided that you have enough stamps of the required digital denominations.

Postage stamps with letter denominations are used for franking postal correspondence within Ukraine and for international mail and have a number of advantages:

• relevance — the denomination of letter stamps is tied to the tariff, not the amount, and changes automatically when the tariff grid is updated;
• quick response of postal services to tariff changes;
• flexibility in the face of inflationary fluctuations;
• simplification of payment for postal items — it is enough to know the category of the item;
• convenience for philatelists — the ability to form collections by denomination.

The only drawback of such postage stamps is the need for additional information to understand the actual cost at a given moment. We will tell you where to find it below.

The choice of stamps — with letter or number denominations — will depend on your specific needs. For one-time shipments within Ukraine, stamps with number denominations will be appropriate. If you often send a lot of letters, consider the convenience of stamps with letter denominations.

For international mail, purchase W, P, R, N, and other letter stamps from the Postmark online store: “Russian warship... DONE! Glory to the nation!”. For domestic mail within Ukraine, H, U, L, T, D, and M stamps are suitable.

You can buy letter stamps in advance, as they will still be valid for sending mail even in a few years.

The most popular letter denominations of Ukrainian postage stamps

The letter values of Ukrposhta stamps are tied to the most common shipping rates and serve as a universal code that never expires. As of January 2026, there are 19 letter denominations in circulation, each of which corresponds to specific categories of shipments and has its own value.

The most popular letter denominations of Ukrainian postage stamps currently in use are U, L, T, and D. For registered mail within Ukraine, stamps with the letter markings F and M are used. For international mail, Ukrposhta offers letter denominations, the cost of which is indicated in the table in US dollars.

The current face value of letter stamps can be found at any Ukrposhta branch.

Why did Ukrposhta stop printing stamps with the denominations V and Z?

In 2022, Ukrposhta made an important historical decision that went beyond philately and became a symbol of national resistance. Due to direct associations with the symbols of Russia's military aggression, it was decided to discontinue the production of stamps and stamped envelopes with the letter denominations V and Z. This is part of the company's informational and cultural position on the unacceptability of using such symbols in Ukraine.

Instead, stamps with a new letter denomination, U, have appeared. To ensure the smooth operation of the postal service and avoid losses for state institutions and private companies that purchased stamps with the denominations V and Z in advance, they are considered valid for payment for sending correspondence.

Understanding the letter values of stamps makes the process of collecting more meaningful and exciting. In addition to determining the value of postage stamps, their denominations can be used to trace postal history and even real events that took place in the country of origin of the stamps. Over the years, the cost of services changes, new types of mail appear, and old ones disappear — all of which is reflected in the denominations of postage stamps.

But even if you only send business and personal letters or postcards from your travels, knowing the nominal value system will help you determine which stamp to buy so that your correspondence reaches its destination.

Visit the official online store Ukrposhta to see how postage stamps with different denominations have changed over the past decades and buy interesting items for your collections. The store has everything you need to replenish your collection and properly store your postage stamps.