Windau 10 kopeek 1915
About This Note
This is a 10 kopeck emergency currency note issued by the Windau (Windau/Ventspils) City Municipality in 1915 during World War I. The note features a tan/cream colored paper stock with clear Russian-language text and a central municipal heraldic emblem, showing significant age-related patina consistent with its Fair condition grade. The reverse displays an administrative circular seal in purple/blue ink, characteristic of early 20th century Baltic municipal emergency issues.
Common. Windau municipal emergency notes from 1915 were issued in substantial quantities to serve local economic needs during World War I. While these are interesting historical documents from the Baltic region, they were widely distributed for everyday commerce and surviving examples in Fair condition are not particularly scarce among serious collectors of Russian Empire emergency currency or Baltic numismatics.
Windau's municipal government issued this emergency currency during World War I when metal coin and standard banknote supplies were disrupted across the Russian Empire. The note's Russian-language inscriptions and reference to wartime provisions reflect Latvia's status as part of the Russian Empire at this time. The municipal seal and contract-related language visible on the note indicate this was an officially sanctioned emergency measure to maintain local commerce and trade during the conflict.
The obverse features a centered municipal heraldic coat of arms or emblem identifying Windau's city administration, flanked by denomination markings in both standard Russian kopeck notation (КОП.) and alternative notation (СОР.). The design is printed in black/dark gray on tan/cream colored paper. The reverse presents a prominent circular postal or administrative seal impression in purple/blue ink, likely containing the municipal authority's official authentication mark. The overall layout is simple and functional, typical of emergency municipal currency issues from this period in the Baltic region.
FRONT: 'ВИНДАВА ВОКОО ГОРОДСКОГО САМОУПРАВЛЕНИЕ' (Windau Municipal Government); '10 КОП.' (10 kopeks); '10 СОР.' (10 kopeks - alternative notation); Reference number 'No 49514' visible on left margin; Additional text references municipal administration, contract provisions, and war-related authorizations, though some fine print is partially legible. BACK: Circular administrative seal with Cyrillic text (text not fully legible in image), rendered in purple/blue ink.
Letterpress printing on laid or wove paper stock, with the heraldic emblem and text rendered in black ink on the obverse. The reverse circular seal appears to have been applied separately, possibly by rubber stamp or seal press using purple/blue ink, a common practice for authenticating emergency municipal notes. The printing quality and paper characteristics are consistent with early 20th century Baltic municipal printing practices.
Serial number 49514 is visible on the noted example. Varieties of Windau municipal issues may exist based on different seal impressions, signature combinations, or printing dates within the 1915 issue period, though comprehensive cataloging of these minor varieties is limited in standard references. The dual denomination notation (КОП./СОР.) appears to be standard for this issue type.
