10 rublei 1909
“Sig.Gusev”
About This Note
This is an exceptional example of a Russian Imperial 10 Rublei note from 1909, graded UNC and bearing the signature of Gusev. The note displays the characteristic pink and cream color scheme of this series with crisp, vibrant printing throughout, showing no signs of circulation or wear. The elaborate baroque engraving, dual allegorical female figures, imperial double-headed eagle, and complex security text make this a significant example of early 20th-century Russian currency artistry.
Common. The 10 Rublei denomination from the 1909 Imperial Russian series was produced in large quantities and multiple signature varieties exist, including the Gusev signature noted in the catalog data. While individual notes in UNC condition are desirable, this series does not represent a rare print run or short-lived issue. Uncirculated examples command modest premiums over circulated specimens but remain obtainable in the collector market.
Issued during the final years of Tsarist Russia under the gold standard system, this 10 Rublei note represents the State Credit Notes (Государственные кредитные билеты) backed by gold reserves. The inscriptions explicitly state the note's gold content (17.424 parts pure gold) and that it circulated throughout the Russian Empire on equal terms with gold coinage, reflecting the financial stability the Imperial government sought to project during the early 1900s.
The note features a symmetrical, highly ornamental baroque design centered on the Imperial Russian coat of arms—the double-headed eagle—flanked by two allegorical female figures representing Liberty or Justice in classical robes with wings. Four circular medallions displaying the numeral '10' appear in key positions (two on the front flanking the shield, four in corner ornaments on the back). Decorative elements include elaborate scrollwork, grape vine bundles in the lower corners, imperial crown motifs, and intricate floral and leaf patterns throughout. The front prominently displays financial and legal text in Cyrillic, while the back contains the more extensive legal declarations regarding gold backing and penalties for counterfeiting. The serial number (ОБ095447) appears at both top and bottom of the front. This design reflects the authoritative grandeur the Russian Imperial government wished to convey through its currency during the gold standard era.
FRONT SIDE: Serial Number: ОБ095447 (Cyrillic ОБ with numerals 095447). Main text block reads: 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ' (State Credit Note); 'ДЕСЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ' (Ten Rubles); 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК РАЗМЕЩАЕТ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ БЕЗ ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ СУММЫ' (The State Bank places credit notes backed by gold coin without limitation of amount); 'РУБЛЬ = 1/15 ИМПЕРИИ, СОДЕРЖИТ 17,424 ДОЛЯ ЧИСТОГО ЗОЛОТА' (One Ruble equals 1/15 of an Imperial and contains 17.424 parts pure gold); 'УПРАВЛЯЮЩИЙ' (Director); 'Кассир' (Cashier). BACK SIDE: Legal and financial declarations: 'РАЗМЕР ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ ОБЕСПЕЧИВАЕТСЯ ВСЕМА ДОСТОЯНИЕМЪ ГОСУДАРСТВА' (The amount of state credit notes for gold coin is ensured by all property of the state); 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЕ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ ИМЕЮТ ХОЖДЕНИЕ ВО ВСЕЙ ИМПЕРИИ НАРАВНЕ СЪ ЗОЛОТОЮ МОНЕТОЮ' (State credit notes circulate throughout the entire empire on equal terms with gold coin); Penalties clause: 'ЗА ПОДДОЛКУ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ ВИНОВНЫЕ ПОДВЕРГАЮТСЯ ЛИШЕНИЮ ВСЕХ ПРАВ, СОСТОЯНИЯ В ССЫЛКУ В КАТОРЖНУЮ РАБОТУ' (For counterfeiting credit notes, the guilty are subjected to deprivation of all rights, confiscation of property, exile, and hard labor).
Intaglio engraving (copperplate or steel plate) with multi-color printing using pink/rose and cream/ivory inks combined with black for the engraved details. The fine line work, intricate decorative patterns, and sharp registration of multiple color passes are characteristic of high-security banknote production by a state security printer. For Russian Imperial notes of this period, production was handled by the Imperial Printing Works (Экспедиция Заготовления Государственных Бумаг) or contracted security printers; the Pick 11c designation suggests this is from the Gusev directorship variety of the 1909 series.
This note is identified as Pick 11c(7) with the signature of Gusev (Управляющий/Director), which represents a specific signature variety within the 1909 series. The serial number prefix 'ОБ' may indicate a specific printing batch or series. Multiple signature varieties of this denomination exist from the 1909 issue, with different directors' and cashiers' signatures creating distinct catalog varieties. The notation '(7)' in the Pick number likely designates Gusev's specific variety position within the 11c classification.
