1 rubel 1920
About This Note
An exceptionally well-preserved AU example of the 1920 Far East Provisional Government 1 ruble note, featuring a striking industrial-themed vignette with steam locomotive, urban architecture, and double-headed eagle symbolism rendered in warm orange and tan hues with deep blue accents. The note displays the hallmark ornate decorative borders and fine engraving characteristic of pre-Soviet Russian credit notes, with minimal wear consistent with limited circulation during this turbulent transitional period. This scarce regional issue represents a fascinating artifact of the Russian Far East's brief autonomy following the October Revolution.
Scarce. Regional issues from the Far East Provisional Government (operating only 1919-1922 in contested territory) were produced in limited quantities compared to central Russian emissions. The Pick catalog designation P-S1245 indicates specialized/supplementary classification, suggesting limited recognition in broader numismatic catalogs. Territorial currency from this brief autonomous period saw restricted circulation geographically and temporally. The AU grade further supports scarcity, as many examples were heavily circulated or have not survived in premium condition. This represents a historically significant transitional note rather than a common post-Revolutionary issue.
Issued during 1920 by the Far East Provisional Government (Primorsky Krai authorities), this note reflects the post-Revolutionary fragmentation of Russian territory when regional governments briefly maintained autonomous financial systems. The industrial imagery—featuring a locomotive, factories, and urban development—symbolizes the Far East's aspirations for modernization and economic independence during this chaotic period before Soviet consolidation. The note's guarantee of gold convertibility and bilingual legal texts underscore the transitional authority's attempt to establish monetary credibility amid civil war and foreign intervention.
The obverse features a panoramic industrial vignette depicting the economic aspirations of the Far Eastern region, with a steam locomotive as the central motif symbolizing transportation and progress, flanked by multi-story buildings, church spires (representing cultural continuity), and fortified structures suggesting regional security and governance. The composition includes a distant mountainous landscape, grounding the note in geographical specificity. A heraldic coat of arms or emblem occupies the vignette's center, incorporating double-headed eagle symbolism—the traditional Russian imperial symbol adopted by transitional authorities. The reverse presents a classically ornamental design dominated by a large double-headed imperial eagle within a circular medallion, surrounded by ornamental wreaths and symmetrical geometric patterns, emphasizing state authority and legitimacy. The entire design employs fine scrollwork, decorative borders with geometric precision, and balanced compositional elements typical of early 20th-century Russian state credit notes.
FRONT: 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ' (State Credit Note) / '1 РУБЛЬ' and 'ОДИНЬ РУБЛЬ' (1 Ruble, written two ways) / '1920' (year) / 'Серія-АБ №234870' (Series-AB Number 234870) / 'Управляющий' (Manager/Director) and 'Кассир' (Cashier) designation lines / 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК РАЗМЕНИВВАЕТ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ БЕЗ ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ СУММЫ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ (1 Р.=15 ИМПЕРИАЛА), СОДЕРЖИТ 17,424 ДОЛЕЙ ЧИСТАГО ЗОЛОТА.' (The State Bank exchanges credit notes without limit on gold coins [1 Ruble = 15 Imperial coins], containing 17.424 parts of pure gold). BACK: 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ' / 'ОДИНЬ РУБЛЬ' / Three legal provisions: '1. РАЗМѢНЬ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ ОБЕЗПЕЧИВАЕТСЯ ВСЕМИ ДОСТОЯНИЕМЬ ГОСУДАРСТВА.' (Exchange of State credit notes for gold coins is guaranteed by all State property) / '2. ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЕ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ ИМЕЮТ ХОЖДЕНИЕ ВО ВСЕЙ РОССИИ НАРАВНЬ СЪ ЗОЛОТОЮ МОНЕТОЮ.' (State credit notes circulate throughout Russia equally with gold coins) / '3. ЗА ПОДДЕЛКУ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ ВИНОВНЫЕ ПОДВЕРГАЮТСЯ ЛИШЕНИЮ ВСЕХ ПРАВ СОСТОЯНИЯ И ССЫЛКѢ В КАТОРЖНУЮ РАБОТУ.' (Counterfeiting subjects violators to loss of all rights and exile to hard labor).
Intaglio (engraved) printing on security paper, employing fine line engraving techniques evident in the intricate border work, complex geometric patterns, and detailed vignette rendering. The multi-color printing (orange/tan and dark blue/black) suggests sequential intaglio passes or specialized security printing equipment. While specific printer attribution for Far East Provisional Government issues remains uncertain due to the region's political instability, the technical execution suggests either pre-existing Russian Imperial Bank plates repurposed by regional authorities or commissioned work from surviving printing facilities. The fine line work and security pattern complexity indicate professional security printing standards of the era.
Series-AB with serial number 234870 identifies this specific printing batch. The Far East Provisional Government 1 ruble exists in multiple series (documented series include A, AB, B, and others), with serial number ranges varying by series. This AB-series example represents one documented variety among the series variants. No overprints are apparent on this specimen. Signature or manager/cashier line variants may exist across series, though both lines are present but unsigned on this example. The 1920 date is fixed for this issue; no year varieties are known for this denomination from this issuer.
