1 rubel 1917

Common. eBay market data shows consistent pricing in the $32–$310 range across multiple condition grades (VG through XF), with VF examples typically selling for $83–$90, indicating healthy supply and active collector demand. The Russo-Asiatic Bank was an established institution with significant operations along the Chinese Eastern Railway, suggesting substantial original print runs. No historical evidence of major recall or short-lived issuance. The abundance of comparable sales at moderate prices confirms this as a common circulation-era note.

The Russo-Asiatic Bank issued this note in Harbin during 1917, a pivotal year marking the Russian Revolution and the bank's operation along the Chinese Eastern Railway corridor. The prominent steam locomotive depicted on the reverse symbolizes the railway's commercial importance and the bank's role in financing trans-Manchurian trade. The note's acceptance clause mentioning the Chinese Eastern Railway and multiple Manchurian branch locations (Harbin, Hailar, Kuanchechzhou) reflects the complex financial networks of the Russian Far East during this period of political upheaval.

This banknote exemplifies the sophisticated international banking practices of early 20th-century Manchuria. The front features an ornamental design with baroque-style cartouches and circular medallions in the corners, framing Russian Cyrillic text within decorative frames rendered in blue, green, brown, red, and cream tones. The reverse showcases a detailed engraved vignette of a steam locomotive in profile traveling left to right on railroad tracks, surrounded by matching ornamental frames and corner medallions—the locomotive serving as a symbol of the Chinese Eastern Railway's commercial backbone. Large denomination numerals appear in all four corners on both sides. The color scheme shifts to predominantly brown and maroon on the reverse while maintaining the same ornamental vocabulary. Serial numbers in red appear on both sides of each face.

FRONT: 'РУССКО-АЗИАТСКИЙ БАНК' (Russo-Asiatic Bank), 'ХАРБИН' (Harbin), 'ОДИН РУБЛЬ' (One Ruble), Serial number '2.48760', and extended text: 'This note is accepted at all cash desks of the Chinese Eastern Railway, as well as in the branches of the Russo-Asiatic Bank in Harbin, Hailar and Kuanchechzhou, on an equal footing with State Credit Notes of samples in circulation until 1917 inclusive. Counterfeiting is prosecuted by law.' Printer attribution: 'American Bank Note Company'. BACK: 'РУССКО-АЗИАТСКИЙ БАНК' (Russo-Asiatic Bank), 'ОДИН РУБЛЬ' (One Ruble), 'ХАРБИН' (Harbin), Serial number '248760', and 'American Bank Note Company'.

Steel-plate intaglio engraving (copperplate/gravure), a premium security printing method employed by American Bank Note Company. The complex engraved ornamental frames, fine-line crosshatching, intricate scrollwork, detailed locomotive rendering, and multi-color printing process indicate professional security banknote production techniques of the period. The precision of line work and the registration of multiple color passes are characteristic of American Bank Note Company's workmanship.

Serial number observed: 248760 (front shows '2.48760', reverse shows '248760'). The note bears the American Bank Note Company imprint on both obverse and reverse. No overprints or signature varieties are noted in the visual analysis. Standard varieties for this Pick number (P-S474) would typically relate to serial number prefixes and printing dates, but the single specimen analyzed does not reveal multiple distinct varieties. Further catalog cross-referencing would be needed to identify all known varieties of this issue.