Banknotes of Russia 05

For this item on Russian banknotes, I continue the 1909-1912 set.

The 25 rubles note is already a large banknote (178 x 108 mm).
In 1909 25 rubles represented more or less 10% of the average year income of a Russian worker.
As the people of Saint Petersburg were 'better' off, let's say for them, 25 rubles was a monthly income.
1 ruble equals 100 kopeks. 15 kopeks was needed to buy one pound of second quality meat.

Although the banknote relatively has a high value, the catalogue prices are quite low as the banknote was printed in large amount.

front side of 25 rubles note in 1909

The 25 rubles note was only issued in one version, dated 1909 (N°1).
It has a full serial number (N°2).

The signatures are similar to the other notes in this set.
Similar to the previous issues, the Shipov signature (N°3) is more common.

2 signatures on the 25 rubles note (1909)

Under the Konshin (or Shipov) signature, a variety of cashiers' signatures can be found.

Shipov and cashier signature 1909

The back side of the note looks quite empty. The colour pattern goes from carmin red on the left to deep green on the right size.
The red area looks empty, but there we can find the watermark. This watermark is the portrait of Czar Alexander III, witch is repeated on the right (green) part of the note.

back side of 25 rubles 1909

portrait of Czar Alexander III

Besides the 3, 5, 10 and 25 rubles note, this set has two more notes...
To be continued...

Banknotes of Russia 01

Old Russian banknotes are among the largest banknotes I have in my collection.
But before I get there, let's start the proper way with number 1.

The regluar catalogue starts numbering 1898. Notes previous to that date are Russian Imperial notes and are classified with A-numbers.
As those notes are a bit harder to get, I start this item with notes issued in 1898 and later.

The first note is already worth looking at more closely.

This is the basic type of several banknotes :

sample of note n°1

As you see, some areas are blurred, and numbered.
This is a help to determine which note it is exactely.

The easiest way is to look at n°1 (the date printed on the note).
You can find 1887 - 1889 - 1894 or 1898.
Look if the monogram (n°2) is AIII (Czar Alexander III).
In this case it is an Imperial note. According the year, you will find 4 different signatures under n°4 and many different signatures under n°5
Those notes are quite valuable.

sample A54 Russian Imperial note

The same design was used under Czar Nicholas II.
Those notes all bear the date 1898, even if they were printed later.
Here, the monogram will be NII.

monogram N II

Those notes are most commom, but still worth exploring, as there are still many subtypes.

Now we have to take a closer look at the serial number.
The 1898 issue, has a full serial number (n°3) :

full serial number note n°1

Newer notes, (also dated 1898) have series numbers (2 letters HA or HB and 1, 2 or 3 numbers).

Series number HA *** - note n°15

In case of the full serial number, the banknote has catalogue number 1.
If there is a series number like above, the note (is cheaper and) is printed in 1915 or later.
Notes baring series number HA - 1 to HA 127 were printed in 1915.
All higher series numbers are notes that were printed under the Provisional Government or even the Soviet Government.

note n° 15 - printed after 1915

Finally, let's have a look at the signatures.

The notes, dated 1898 have 4 different signatures.

The 4th signature, of the State Bank Director (Ivan Shipov) is the most common,
as they are also on all notes, printed after 1898.

Under Shipov's signature, a variety of 13 different signatures of cashiers can be found.

The back side of all notes are always the same :

to be continued...