Early Soviet Banknotes

A year following the revolution that toppled over 300 years of tsarist rule, the communist government established the RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC in 1918. The first series of notes of the Soviet order bore the same double headed eagle that appears on the White Government issues. An official state arms was created in late 1918, but wouldn't appear on their currency till a year later in 1919. This same emblem was used on notes issued between 1919 and 1923.



RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~1,000 Ruble 1918



RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~1,000 Ruble 1919

 

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In December 1922, the republics of Russia, Byelorussia (Belarus) and Ukraine united to form the UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS. The new federation also included several autonomous republics and other regions. Between 1924 and 1939 the U.S.S.R. would re-aquire most of the territories that were under the Russian Empire. The earliest series of notes for the U.S.S.R. were printed in 1923, but weren't circulated until 1924. The first specimen listed is a 10,000 Ruble note dated 1923, and the second is a 1 Chervonets (equals 10 Rubles) note dated 1926.



UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS~10,000 Ruble 1923 (1924)



UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS~1 Chervonets 1926

 

Numerous territories declared independence after the Russian Empire fragmented in 1917. The Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania declared independence in 1918, however, Soviet influence was felt in these areas as well. One example was a series of municipal notes issued for the 'RIGA WORKERS DEPUTIES SOVIET' in Latvia. The specimen listed is 5 Rubli note dated 1919. Latvia and the other Baltic republics were able to maintain their independence until the Soviet Union invaded in 1939, and then officially made Soviet republics a year later in 1940.



RIGA (SOVIET-MUNICIPAL)~5 Rubli 1919

 

During the Russian Civil War between 1917 and 1921, the Soviets had been fighting fiercely to hold on to control to what terriitory they had. One area they had a brief control of was ARKHANGELSK~SOVIET on the Arctic coast in north Russia in 1918. Later that same year the White regiment, along with their allies pushed the Soviets out, and took temporary control of the district. The specimen posted is a 25 Ruble note that dates from 1918 for the Soviet goverment. These same notes were counter-stamped later on the reverse in red ink with a double headed eagle and Russian legend to be used under the White administration.



ARKHANGELSK (SOVIET-MUNICIPAL)~25 Ruble <1918>

 

Another area that had been rocked by the war was North Caucasia. Like in Arkhangelsk, North Caucasia was initially controlled by the Soviets from 1918 to 1919 until they were forced to flee. A temporary state called the Emirate of North Caucasia was established in 1919, then the territory was recaptured by the Soviets in 1920. The specimen posted is a 25 Ruble note for the NORTH CAUCASIAN SOVIET REPUBLIC dated 1918.



NORTH CAUCASIAN SOVIET REPUBLIC~25 Ruble 1918

 

The next four frames will be dealing with notes from the Transcaucasian region. The first set are notes from the ARMENIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC. Armenia became independent in 1918 and remained so until they were conquered by the Soviets in 1920. The first specimen is a 5,000 Ruble note dated 1921, and the second is a 100,000 Ruble note dated 1922. Due to the crude printing methods the 100,000 Ruble note show weak and uneven spots especially on the reverse side.



ARMENIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~5,000 Ruble 1921



ARMENIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~100,000 Ruble 1922

 

The second set of notes are from the AZERBAIJAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC. Azerbaijan was an independent republic from 1918 to 1920 when it fell to the Soviets. The first specimen is a 1,000 Ruble note dated 1338 AH/1920 AD, the second is a 1,000,000 Ruble note dated 1340 AH/1922 AD. and the third is a 5,000,000 Ruble note from 1341 AH/1923 AD. The third specimen was the last issue before Azerbaijan was incorporated into the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic.



AZERBAIJAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~1,000 Ruble 1338 AH/1920 AD



AZERBAIJAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~1,000,000 Ruble 1340 AH/1922 AD



AZERBAIJAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~5,000,000 Ruble 1341 AH/1923 AD

 

Beautiful Notes...

Sorry to have inserted a post between the postings..

We have some guys here with outstanding knowledge of World Notes and I am sure they will enjoy these.

RickieB

 

This third section deals with currency for the GEORGIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC. Georgia was an independent republic from 1918 to 1921 before falling to the Soviets. Georgia was one of the last territories to become Soviet controlled, and after this the Russian Civil War was coming to an end. The specimen listed is a 10,000 Ruble note dated 1922.



GEORGIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~10,000 Ruble 1922

 

This last section deals with notes from the Soviet Transcaucasia. In 1923, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were united to become the FEDERATION OF SOCIALIST SOVIET REPUBLICS OF TRANSCAUCASIA later called the TRANSCAUCASIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC. The first specimen is a 1,000 Ruble note from the FEDERATION OF SOCIALIST SOVIET REPUBLICS OF TRANSCAUCSIA dated 1923. The second and third specimens are 100,000,000 Ruble and 1,000,000,000 Ruble notes from the TRANSCAUCASIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC both dated 1924. The 1924 issues were only circulated for a short time before converting to the ruble system of the U.S.S.R.. The federation of Transcaucasia lasted until 1936 when Joseph Stalin desolved the union due to the ethnic tension between the respective republics. Following that, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan each gained official republic status of the U.S.S.R..



FEDERATION OF SOCIALIST SOVIET REPUBLICS OF TRANSCAUCSIA~1,000 Ruble 1923



TRANSCAUCASIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~100,000,000 Ruble 1924



TRANSCAUCASIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~1,000,000,000 Ruble 1924

 

This next section deals with currency from the 'SOVIET OF THE URALS REGION' based in Yekaterinburg (later Sverdlovsk). This specimen is a 1 Ruble note dated 1918. The Soviet regiment that issued these notes were the same people responsible for the execution of the Romanov family on July 16, 1918. Following their execution, the area was conquered by Czech and White regiments almost two weeks later on July 24, 1918.



URALS (SOVIET-REGIONAL)~1 Ruble 1918

 

The next three blocks will with notes from Soviet Central Asia. This first section deals with notes from the TURKESTAN REGIONAL SOVIET. The first specimen is a 250 Ruble note dated 1919. The second is a 1,000 Ruble note date 1920.



TURKESTAN (SOVIET-REGIONAL)~250 Ruble 1919



TURKESTAN (SOVIET-REGIONAL)~1,000 Ruble 1920

 

Don't sweat it, I'm glad you like this thread. I'm the one whose sorry that some of the specimens are kind of raggy. For example, the 1 Billion Ruble note from Soviet Transcausia looks like it was used for a dish towel. It's a scarce note however, so I figured it'll do until I can find a better specimen.

~Daniel

 

This next part deals with notes from the BUKHARA SOVIET PEOPLES REPUBLIC. Bukhara was initially an independent emirate from 1917 until 1920 when it was conquered by the Soviets. The first specimen is a 50 Ruble note date 1338 AH/1920 AD. The second is a 20,000 Ruble note dated 1339 AH/1921 AD, and the third is 10 Ruble note dated 1340 AH/1922 AD. The first two specimens were printed with wooden blocks, whereas the third looks to have been done with a printing press since the quality is more refined. Bukhara remained a republic until 1925 when it was dissolved and reincorporated into the Soviet republics of Uzbekistan and portions of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.



BUKHARA SOVIET PEOPLES REPUBLIC~50 Ruble 1338 AH/1920 AD



BUKHARA SOVIET PEOPLES REPUBLIC~20,000 Ruble 1339 AH/1921 AD



BUKHARA SOVIET PEOPLES REPUBLIC~10 Ruble 1340 AH/1922 AD

 

This last section on Central Asia deals with notes from the KHWAREZM SOVIET PEOPLES REPUBLIC. Initially called the Khanate of Khiva, which was independent from 1917 to 1920. After Khiva fell to the Soviets in 1920, the was changed to Khwarezm. Khwarezm, which was once a powerful empire in the region from the 11th to the 13th centuries, had it's name restored between 1920 and 1925. Like Bukhara, the Khwarezm republic was dissolved and incorporated into the Soviet republics of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the autonomous region of Karakalpakia. The first specimen is a 25,000 Ruble note dated 1340 AH/1921 AD. The second is a 3 Ruble=30,000 Ruble note dated 1340 AH/1922 AD, and the third is 100 Ruble note dated 1341 AH/1923 AD.



KHWAREZM SOVIET PEOPLES REPUBLIC~25,000 Ruble 1340 AH/1921 AD



KHWAREZM SOVIET PEOPLES REPUBLIC~3 Ruble=30,000 Ruble 1340 AH/1922 AD



KHWAREZM SOVIET PEOPLES REPUBLIC~100 Ruble 1341 AH/1923 AD

 

The next two notes are from the FAR EASTERN REPUBLIC. This short lived republic was established by the Bolshevik government as a buffer state against Japan between 1920 and 1922. The Japanese, who mostly supported the White government, controlled numerous areas along the coastline including the southern half of Sakhalin island, and the port city of Vladivostok. The White regiments last outpost, the 'Provisional Government of Priamar' was defeated by the Soviets in October 1922. The two specimens listed are a 10 Ruble and 1,000 Ruble note both dated 1920.



FAR EASTERN REPUBLIC~10 Ruble 1920



FAR EASTERN REPUBLIC~1,000 Ruble 1920

 

Fascinating topic. I like the Babylonians and there are several varieties of that note that I have collected. I have quite a few notes from the Russian Civil War era -but I collect mostly the White notes - usually because they had the obligatory feminine vignettes. My earliest Soviet banknote is the State Bank 5 Rubles of 1909 with the Shipov signature but the УА-171 serial number that were actually printed in early 1918.

 

Those are very nice.. Love the color.
I have some notes pre Soviet 1909 And 1889 And some USSR Bills.. Nothing as nice as those.. Time to start a new hunt.

 

Thanks 'Saor Alba'. The Babylonian note are indeed interesting. The notes from Soviet Transcaucasia are formatted almost the same way being printed in four languages. I actually have a series of Russian Civil War notes (White, Separitist etc.) that I'm going to try to list in the near future.

~Daniel.

 

Thanks 'Lather'. The imperial issues are very nice too. Many of the notes between 1898 and 1917 are fairly common, except the higher denominations. Notes before 1898 however, is another story entirely. These can easily go for three figures even in low grade. I have a 3 Ruble note dated 1880, but it has large tears along the crease lines. I got this one cheap about fifteen years ago before the prices skyrocketed. Good luck on your hunt.

~Daniel.