Early Soviet Banknotes

I actually have a fairly decent collection of Russia/Soviet/USSR/Russia notes - I just never occasioned to image them all. The Russian Revolution then Civil War is one of the more fascinatingly perplexing studies in history where there were so many factors at play, each with their own unique agenda's.

Here is one of my favourite notes from then independent Armenia, a lovely note printed by Waterlow and Sons in London - and an unusually high quality printing considering the conditions under which it was issued and when:



Of course the reason I had to have this one:



The Transcaucasian region was and still is very much a heady part of the world - there being an ethnic brew along the lines of the former Yugoslavia with a wide and varied mix of ethnicities, religions and differing political opinions.

Here is another note from that region, this from Russia proper, but in Transcaucasia from the Vladikavkaz Railroad - with a wonderful map of the region:

 

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Then much closer to home this note was intended to be issued by interventionist forces in South Russia and a part of Ukraine that they then controlled:

 

The USSR 1961 and 1991-2 notes are so unfortunately common. They lost value quickly beginning in 1991 and they are still everywhere. I have to admit I have used them as phone number paper etc I also use them and karbovnets kupons as short snorters and send them from Ukraine around the world with signatures.

 

Very nice examples 'Saor Alba'. The female icons are beautiful, and they always brighten up any banknote. I have a 50 and 100 Ruble note from Armenia (1st Republic). They have very nice design work, and look more refined as far as the printing quality compared to the Soviet issues. I also have a few notes from South Russia and Rostov. These are the most common of the civil war issues available. The civil war issues are interesting in general, because they reflect the ambitions of the group that issued them. Thanks for sharing your selection.

~Daniel

 

wow, i must say those are nice. i like the notes from the 1900's to late fourties.

 

I will have to image my Soviet banknotes sometime, just they are so unfortunately devoid of the mystical Russian beauties, and so full of weapons and ugly bald guys with beards, rather uninspiring.