Я положил крупные монеты в кошелёк.

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Breakdown of Я положил крупные монеты в кошелёк.

• в: in
• положить: to put
• кошелёк: the wallet

Questions & Answers about Я положил крупные монеты в кошелёк.

Why is it положил and not положилa/положили?

Because Russian past tense agrees with the subject in gender (and number):

• я положил = I (male speaker) put
• я положила = I (female speaker) put
• мы положили = we put
  The meaning is the same; only the speaker’s gender/number changes the past-tense form.

What’s the difference between положил and клал?

It’s mainly aspect:

• положил (perfective) = a completed, one-time action: you put them (and the action is done).
• клал (imperfective) = process/repeated action, or background: you were putting / used to put.
  So Я положил... sounds like a finished result: the coins ended up in the wallet.

Is положить the “normal” verb for “to put,” or are there alternatives?

Положить is very common for “put/lay (something somewhere)” when the action is completed. Alternatives depend on how you “put” it:

• поставить = put in an upright position (set/stand)
• бросить = throw/toss
• сунуть = stick/shove quickly (colloquial)
• убрать = put away (emphasis on tidying/away)
  For coins into a wallet, положить is neutral and natural.