10 rublei 1909
“Sig.Naumov”
About This Note
A striking example of Russian Imperial currency from 1909, this 10 ruble note displays the characteristic pink and cream color scheme of its era with exceptional condition preservation. The front features an elaborate baroque design centered on the imperial double-headed eagle, flanked by cherub figures and grape motifs, while the reverse presents legal text within ornamental cartouches. The VF grade combined with vibrant colors and sharp engraving detail makes this a desirable collector specimen of late Tsarist-era State Credit Notes.
Common. The 1909 10 ruble note (Pick 11b series) was issued in substantial quantities by the Russian State Bank during a period of relative monetary stability. While Russian Imperial banknotes have become collectible, the 10 ruble denomination from this era remains widely available in the numismatic market at reasonable prices. The VF condition grade is desirable but not exceptionally scarce—many examples survive in varying states of preservation from this issue.
This 1909 10 ruble note represents the final period of the Russian Imperial monetary system, issued by the State Bank (Государственный Банк) under the gold standard regime. The inscriptions prominently declare the note's backing by state property and its equivalence to gold coin (золотую монету), reflecting Russia's commitment to convertibility following the financial reforms after the 1905 Revolution. The legal warnings on the reverse regarding punishment for counterfeiting underscore the severe penalties imposed during this period of political and economic tension.
This banknote exemplifies the opulent baroque aesthetic of early 20th-century Russian Imperial currency. The obverse features a symmetrical composition dominated by the imperial double-headed eagle—the coat of arms of the Russian Empire—positioned centrally within an elaborate rococo cartouche. Four cherubic winged figures (putti) occupy the upper and lower sides, serving both decorative and symbolic purposes representing authority and heavenly blessing. Grape bunches in ornamental frames appear at the lower corners, a classical motif symbolizing prosperity and fertility. The denomination numerals '10' are housed in circular medallion frames flanking the central design. The reverse maintains strict symmetry with ornamental corner frames containing floral or grape cluster designs, while the central cartouche contains the three legal declarations regarding the note's status, backing, and penalties for counterfeiting. The pink and teal color scheme, combined with cream backgrounds and black text, creates visual hierarchy while the fine repeating textured pattern serves both aesthetic and security purposes.
FRONT SIDE: 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ' (State Credit Note); 'ДЕСЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ' (Ten Rubles); 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК РАЗМЕНИВАЕТСЯ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ БЕЗ ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ СУММЫ' (The State Bank exchanges credit notes for gold coin without limit of sum); '(1 рубль = 1/15 империала содержит 11,424 долей чистого золота)' (1 ruble = 1/15 imperial contains 11.424 shares of pure gold); 'Управляющий' (Managing Director); 'Кассир' (Cashier); Serial number: 'ГР-726854' (appearing twice). BACK SIDE: '1. РАЗЛЕЁН ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ ОБЕСПЕЧИВАЕТСЯ ВСЕМ ДОСТОЯНИЕМ ГОСУДАРСТВА' (1. Issue of government credit notes for gold coin guaranteed by all state property); '2. ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЕ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ ИМЕЮТ ХОЖДЕНИЕ ВО ВСЕЙ ИМПЕРИИ НАРАВНЕ СЗ ЗОЛОТОЮ МОНЕТОЮ' (2. Government credit notes have currency throughout the entire empire equally with gold coin); '3. ЗА ПОДДЕРЖКУ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ ВИНОВНЫЕ ПОДВЕРГАЮТСЯ ЛИШЬ [ДЕПРИВАЦИИ ПРАВ] И ССЫЛКЕ НА КАТОРЖНУЮ РАБОТУ' (3. For counterfeiting credit notes the guilty are subject to deprivation of all rights and exile to hard labor); '10·РУБ·10' (10 Rubles 10).
This note employs traditional intaglio (engraving) printing on a high-quality textured paper base. The depth of line work visible in the baroque scrollwork, the crispness of the cherub and eagle details, and the fine repeating background pattern all indicate skilled engraving and deep impression characteristic of Imperial Russian banknote production. Multiple color separations (pink, green/teal, black, and cream) were applied sequentially, a common technique for Russian State Bank notes of this period. The security features including the intricate ornamental frames and fine-line engraving throughout represent the state-of-the-art currency production methods available to the Imperial Russian government in 1909.
The Pick catalog designation P-11b(12) indicates this is variety 12 within the 11b series. The serial number ГР-726854 (with Cyrillic prefix 'ГР') represents one of the letter-number combinations used during this issue. Variations in signature combinations for the Managing Director (Управляющий) and Cashier (Кассир) positions exist across this series, as do different serial number prefix combinations. The notation 'Sig.Naumov' in the collector notes likely refers to the signature of one of these officials, a detail that may indicate a specific signature variety within the broader P-11b(12) classification. Without additional context on all signature variants for this specific issue, the primary variety identifier remains the Pick number and series designation.
