10 rublei 1909

Common. Russian Imperial 10 Rubles credit notes from 1909 were issued in substantial quantities throughout the Russian Empire and remain readily available in the collector market. The Pick 11b(2) catalog assignment indicates this is a known standard type within the Imperial Russian series. No evidence suggests limited print runs, recall, or scarcity for this denomination and year. Notes of this type in VF condition typically trade in moderate price ranges reflecting their common status.

Issued during the final decade of Imperial Russia, this 10 Rubles note exemplifies the State Credit Note system established to support the gold standard economy. The note's prominent Imperial coat of arms, gold redemption promise, and anti-counterfeiting warnings reflect the Russian government's effort to maintain monetary stability and confidence in paper currency backed by state property. The 1909 date places this note during a period of economic consolidation following the 1905 revolution and Russo-Japanese War.

This State Credit Note features a meticulously balanced symmetrical composition divided by a rose-pink ornamental border framing a cream-colored central field. The obverse presents two allegorical female figures representing Liberty and Commerce/Trade positioned on the left and right sides, rendered in the neoclassical style favored by Imperial Russian engravers. Dominating the upper center is the Imperial Russian coat of arms—a crowned double-headed eagle—set within an elaborate cartouche with acanthus scrollwork. Circular denomination medallions containing '10' flank the eagle, while laurel wreaths and grape bunches (symbols of prosperity and agriculture) occupy the spaces between the allegorical figures and central emblem. The reverse side features an expansive ornamental cartouche containing the regulatory and legal text, with corner rosettes and botanical flourishes adding to the overall decorative wealth. The complex multi-layered engraving throughout serves both aesthetic and security purposes.

FRONT SIDE: 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ' (State Credit Note); Serial numbers: ДГ 8271112 (top left), ДГ 8274112 (bottom right); Denomination medallions: '10' (left and right); '1909' (date); 'С. Петербург' (St. Petersburg); Title positions: 'Справляющий' (Acting Manager) and 'Кассир' (Cashier); Gold redemption clause: 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК РАЗМЕНИВАЕТ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ БЕЗ ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ СУММЫ' (State Bank exchanges credit notes for gold coin without limitation of sum, with specific gold content specification - 1 Ruble equals 1/3 of gold content containing 124 donya of pure gold). BACK SIDE: Main legal text: 'РАЗДАЧА ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ ОБЕСПЕЧИВАЕТСЯ ВСЕМЯ ДОСТОЯНИЕВ ГОСУДАРСТВА. ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЕ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ ИМЕЮТ ХОЖДЕНИЕ ВО ВСЕЙ ИМПЕРИИ НАРАВНЕ СА ЗОЛОТОЮ МОНЕТОЮ. ЗА ПОДДЕЛКУ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ ВИНОВНЫЕ ПОДВЕРГАЮТСЯ ЛИШЕНИЮ ВСЕХ ПРАВ СОСТОЯНИЯ И ССЫЛКЕ НА КАТОРЖНУЮ РАБОТУ.' (The issuance of state credit notes for gold coin is secured by all the property of the state. State credit notes circulate throughout the entire empire on equal footing with gold coin. For counterfeiting of credit notes, guilty parties are subject to deprivation of all civil rights and exile to hard labor); Denomination box: '10 РУБ 10' (10 Roubles 10).

Intaglio (copperplate/steel plate engraving), the standard security printing method for Russian Imperial credit notes. The crisp, fine-line detail visible in the ornamental scrollwork, the sharp impression of numerals and text, and the even color saturation indicate professional security printing executed by the Russian State Printing Works (Гознак). The complexity of the overlapping decorative elements and the precision of the registration between the pink borders and cream field demonstrate the advanced printing capabilities available to the Imperial Russian government in 1909.

Pick catalog designation P-11b(2) indicates this is variety 2 of the P-11b type. Varieties within the 1909 10 Rubles series are distinguished by signature combinations (the 'Справляющий' and 'Кассир' signatures vary by official), serial number prefixes, and minor design elements. The serial prefix 'ДГ' visible on this example is consistent with notes from the 1909-1917 issuance period. The notation 'Sig. Baryshev' in the collector notes likely references one of the official signatories on this particular note, which is a common identifying feature for Russian Imperial credit notes of this era. Further variety identification would require reference to specialized Russian Imperial banknote catalogs documenting specific signature combinations and serial ranges.