10 rubli 1919

Common. The eBay price tracking data shows consistent sales in the $7.50–$38.99 range for circulated examples (VG to F condition), with catalog values from 2016 listing VF at $30 and UNC at $100. The PMG population report indicates this Pick number exists in multiple documented variants (P-4b, P-4c, P-4e, P-4f), suggesting reasonable production quantities and availability. While AU-condition examples command higher prices, the steady market activity and multiple variant documentation indicate this is a readily obtainable note rather than a scarce issue.

Issued during Latvia's independence period following World War I, this 1919 banknote represents the Latvian State Treasury's assertion of monetary sovereignty. The imagery—featuring navigational and celestial symbols (the sun and water)—reflects the nation's Baltic maritime heritage and aspirations for stability, while the ornamental security design reflects early 20th-century European security printing standards during a period of rapid nation-building and currency establishment.

The obverse features an elaborate baroque-styled frame with ornamental scrollwork and floral elements in brown/rust tones surrounding a central oval medallion. Within the medallion is a geographical representation depicting water (rendered in green) and a prominent radiating sun symbol, likely symbolizing Latvia's position and natural elements. The reverse displays a more strictly symmetrical design with four corner ornamental wreaths flanking a large central sunburst or crown emblem with radiating rays and a star symbol, bound by Greek key pattern borders. Both sides employ multiple color-printing layers (brown, green, cream, and beige) with fine guilloche and engraved hatching throughout for anti-counterfeiting purposes.

FRONT: 'LATVIJAS VALSTS KASES DESMIT RUBĻI' (Latvian State Treasury Ten Rubles). Legal text in Latvian regarding state treasury note security, counterfeiting penalties, and note preservation responsibilities. Serial numbers: E149430 (left and right). BACK: 'LATVIJAS VALSTS KASES' (Latvian State Treasury) and '10 RUBĻI' (10 Rubles). Additional text partially visible regarding federation or international status.

Engraved intaglio printing, evidenced by the fine line work, complex guilloche patterns, ornate border designs, and multi-color layering visible throughout both sides. The precision of the baroque flourishes and the depth of the engraved elements are characteristic of security printing by major European printers of the period. While the specific printer is not definitively identified in the catalog data for Pick-4e, such Latvian issues of 1919 were typically produced by established European security printers such as G&D (Giesecke & Devrient) or similar firms.

This note is identified as Pick-4e with light-line watermark and Series E designation (based on the E serial number prefix observed: E149430). The PMG population report documents at least four distinct varieties of the 10 Rubli 1919 issue (P-4b, P-4c, P-4e, P-4f), distinguished primarily by watermark differences and serial series. The Series E variety with light-line watermark represents one recognized variant within the 10 Rubli issue.