10 rublei 1909

Common. The 1909 10 ruble note (Pick 11b) was issued in large quantities as part of the standard circulation series of State Credit Notes. No evidence suggests restricted print runs, early recalls, or significant scarcity for this denomination and date. While individual notes in Fine condition with minimal damage command modest collector interest, the Pick 11b(17) variety itself is not rare in the broader numismatic market. These notes remain relatively affordable and are frequently encountered in collections of Imperial Russian currency.

Issued during the final years of Tsar Nicholas II's reign, this State Credit Note represents the Russian Empire's gold-backed currency system established after the Russo-Japanese War financial reforms. The prominent inscription guaranteeing exchange for gold coin and stating the gold content (17.424 parts per ruble) reflects Russia's adherence to the gold standard during this period. The note's elaborate classical allegorical design and imperial symbolism—particularly the double-headed eagle coat of arms—underscore the authority and prestige the State sought to project through its currency.

The note features a symmetrical classical composition dominated by allegorical imagery typical of Imperial Russian credit notes. The front displays two winged allegorical female figures (representing virtues such as Commerce and Security, common in 19th-century currency design) positioned flanking the upper portion, with the Imperial Russian double-headed eagle coat of arms centered at the top. Large circular denomination medallions containing '10' occupy the left and right sides of the central beige panel. Decorative fruit and vegetable garland motifs—including grapes, wheat, and produce—frame the composition, symbolizing prosperity and agricultural wealth. The color scheme of rose-pink with beige panels and green accents on the reverse is characteristic of the 1909 issue. The back side maintains the baroque aesthetic with corner ornaments featuring similar floral and fruit garland arrangements and a central text panel surrounded by ornamental borders. The entire design employs the classical symmetry and elaborate engraving typical of the State Credit Notes issued during the final decades of Imperial Russia.

FRONT SIDE: Serial Number: БЦ 599330 (BTS 599330) | Title: ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ (State Credit Note) | Denomination (text): ДЕВЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ (Nine Rubles) [Note: visual analysis indicates '10' denomination numerals] | Exchange Guarantee: ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК РАЗМЕНИВАЕТ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ (The State Bank exchanges credit notes for gold coin) | Terms: БЕЗ ОГРАНИЧЕНИЙ СУМЫ (Without limit of sum) | Gold Standard: 1 РУБЛЬ = 1/15 ИМПЕРИАЛА СОДЕРЖИТ 17,424 ДОЛИ ЧИСТОГО ЗОЛОТА (1 ruble = 1/15 imperial contains 17.424 parts pure gold) | Official Titles: Управляющий (Managing Director) and Кассир (Cashier) | Date: 1909 | Denomination numerals: 10 (appears multiple times) BACK SIDE: Legal Text: ПРАВИЛА ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ И БИЛЕТОВ НА ЗОЛОТО А МОНЕТУ ОБЕСПЕЧИВАЕТСЯ ВСЕМ ИМУЩЕСТВОМ ГОСУДАРСТВА ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЕ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ ИМЕЮТ ХОЖДЕНИЕ ВО ВСЕЙ ИМПЕРИИ НАРАВНЕ СО ЗОЛОТОЮ МОНЕТОЮ ЗА ПОДДЕЛКУ КРЕДИТНЫХ СИЛЕВОЙ БИЛЕТНЫХ ПОДВЕРГАЮТСЯ ЛИШЕ НО ВСЕХ ПРАВ СО СТОРОНЫ И ССЫЛКА (Rules of State Credit Notes and Notes on Gold. The note is secured by all state property. State credit notes circulate throughout the entire empire on equal terms with gold coin. Counterfeiting of credit notes subjects the offender to loss of all rights and exile) | Denomination: 10 РУБ 10 (10 RUB 10)

This note was produced using intaglio (engraved) printing, as evidenced by the fine line work, intricate scrollwork, and detailed engraved patterns visible throughout the design. The multi-color printing employing color separation—with distinct pink, green, beige, and black tones—indicates the use of multiple printing plates characteristic of banknote production of this era. The security features including ornamental borders and fine engraving lines were executed by the Imperial Printing Works (Gosudarstvennaya Tipografiya) in St. Petersburg, the official printer for Russian imperial currency.

This example carries the serial number prefix БЦ (BTS) 599330, which identifies it within the printing sequence of the 1909 issue. The Pick catalog designation 11b(17) indicates this is a known variety of the 1909 10 ruble note; the '(17)' suffix typically denotes a specific signature combination or printing variant. The notation of Sig. Trofimov in the collector notes suggests this note bears the signature of a known official associated with this series, which may be relevant for advanced variety collectors. The Fine condition grade and visible aging characteristics are consistent with circulation during the final years of Imperial Russia before the 1917 Revolution.