25 rublei 1909

Common. The 25 rublei denomination from 1909 (Pick 12a) was issued in large quantities as part of standard Imperial currency circulation. While individual notes of this era command collector interest, the denomination itself was widely circulated and remains common on the philatelic and numismatic market. VF-grade examples are readily available to collectors at moderate prices.

This banknote was issued under the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, as explicitly stated in the reverse inscription, by decree authorizing the State Bank to issue credit notes backed by gold reserves. The portrait of Alexander III on the reverse commemorates the previous emperor, emphasizing the continuity of Imperial authority. The note's inscription referencing the gold standard (1 ruble = 1/15 imperial, containing 17.424 parts pure gold) reflects Russia's commitment to the gold standard during the final years before World War I destabilized the Imperial economy.

The obverse features the Imperial double-headed eagle with crown and ornamentation flanked by palm fronds, positioned on the left side beneath elaborate scrollwork. The denomination '25' appears in ornate circular frames positioned in the top right and bottom left, surrounded by intricate geometric background patterns in pink and rose tones with green and black elements. The center contains official text regarding the note's status as a State Credit Note (Государственный кредитный билет) and the gold redemption guarantee. The reverse showcases a formal portrait of Emperor Alexander III (r. 1881-1894) depicted in full military uniform with decorations and medals, framed within an ornate oval cartouche enhanced by laurel wreaths and decorative scrollwork. Above the portrait sits the Imperial crown and double-headed eagle insignia. The background transitions from pale pink/cream on the left to pale green on the right. Both sides employ fine line engraving with meticulous attention to decorative detail.

FRONT SIDE: Serial number: БД 842783 (BD 842783). Main text: ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ (State Credit Note) and ДВАДЦАТЬ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ (Twenty-Five Rubles). Gold standard clause: ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК РАЗМѢНИВАЕТЪ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ БЕЗЪ ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ СУММЫ (1 РУБЛЬ = 1/15 ИМПЕРІАЛА, СОДЕРЖИТЪ 17,424 ДОЛИ ЧИСТАГО ЗОЛОТА) translates to 'The State Bank exchanges credit notes for gold coins without sum limitation (1 ruble = 1/15 imperial, contains 17.424 parts pure gold)'. Signature lines: Управляющий (Manager) and Кассиръ (Cashier). Date: 1909. REVERSE SIDE: АЛЕКСАНДРЪ III (Alexander III). Denomination: РУБЛЕЙ (Rubles). Lengthy authorization text: СЪ БОЖИЕЮ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ ВЫПУЩЕННЫЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫМ БАНКОМ ПО ПОСТАНОВЛЕНІЯМ ИМПЕРАТОРА ВСЕРОССІЙСКАГО НИКОЛАЯ ВТОРАГО... translates to 'By the grace of God, State Credit Note issued by the State Bank by decree of the Emperor of All Russia Nicholas the Second, acknowledged as valid state documents and for all payments without restriction, circulating in full circulation with all payments to the treasury in the form of paper equivalent to gold coins as established by each mint'.

Intaglio (steel plate engraving), which was the standard security printing method for Russian Imperial banknotes. The fine line work, precise geometric patterns, and depth of the portrait engraving are characteristic of high-quality intaglio production. This note was likely produced by one of Russia's official security printers, possibly the State Printing Works in St. Petersburg, which handled Imperial banknote production during this period.

This example bears the signature variety notation Sig. Mikheyev as noted in the collector notes, indicating the cashier's signature on the note. The serial number БД 842783 places this in the BD series. Pick 12a(11) notation indicates this is specifically variety 11 of the 25 rublei 1909 issue, which typically reflects differences in signature combinations or minor design variants within the same basic design. The 1909 date and the State Bank attribution under Nicholas II's authority are consistent with this cataloging.