10 rublei 1920

common. The Vladikavkaz State Bank Branch issued multiple series of emergency notes during 1920-1922 in substantial quantities to meet regional currency demands. Pick S600B represents a standard denomination (10 rubles) from an established regional branch with documented print runs. Fair condition examples of Civil War-era Russian regional notes remain readily available in the collector market, typically valued between $15-40 USD, indicating consistent supply and moderate collector demand rather than scarcity.

Issued during Russia's 1920-1922 period of severe financial crisis and regional fragmentation, this Vladikavkaz branch note represents the desperate measures taken by regional banks to maintain monetary circulation when central government authority was fractured. The handwritten certification on the reverse reflects the provisional nature of Civil War-era currency, where formal printed securities gave way to authenticated manuscript designations guaranteeing the note's value against the issuing branch's reserves. The ornamental geometric design on the obverse, while decorative, served both aesthetic and security functions typical of early Soviet emergency currency.

The obverse features a centrally positioned ornamental numeral '10' as the primary design element, rendered in stippled/dotted technique with blue and tan coloring and circular/oval decorative elements incorporated within the numeral itself. The background consists of an intricate repeating geometric pattern in tan and beige, providing both visual interest and security through complexity. Decorative ornamental borders frame all edges in traditional Art Nouveau style. The reverse abandons printed design entirely in favor of manuscript authentication—a characteristic feature of Vladikavkaz branch emergency notes where bank officials hand-wrote certification statements and signatures to guarantee value against the branch's reserves. This represents the transition between formal currency design and wartime expediency.

FRONT: 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ ЗНАК' (State Note); Serial number '600835'; Denomination '10'. BACK: 'Этот охранительный (совершенный) Настоящий знак означает сумму; иначального на текущем счете во Владикавказском Отделении Государственного Банка, имеет хождение наравне с кредитными билетами в летами с отчета на общегосударстве, кредитные билеты при первой возможности' (This protective [complete] note certifies the amount; otherwise on current account at the Vladikavkaz Branch of the State Bank, has currency equal to credit notes in terms of reporting to the state, credit notes at first opportunity); 'Управляющий Банком' (Bank Manager); 'Контролер [signature]' (Controller [signature]).

The obverse was produced using relief/letterpress printing with hand-applied color work, evidenced by the crisp geometric patterns and ornamental borders typical of Russian Imperial and early Soviet security printing. The stippled texture of the numeral '10' suggests engraving or specialized relief block preparation. The reverse is entirely manuscript-authenticated with cursive handwriting in black ink, with signatures applied by bank officials—a standard practice for Vladikavkaz branch notes where formal lithographic printing was unavailable or economically unfeasible during the Civil War period.

This example is identified as Pick S600B, the standard 10 ruble denomination from the Vladikavkaz State Bank Branch. The serial number '600835' falls within documented ranges for this series. Known varieties of this Pick number include different signature combinations of bank officials (Управляющий/Manager and Контролер/Controller signatures vary), different handwritten certification text variations, and minor typography variations in the reverse manuscript text reflecting different printing runs and authentication officials. This particular specimen exhibits the characteristic two-signature authentication format typical of S600B examples.