25 rublei 1919
“Krasnojarsk”
About This Note
This is a 25 Rublei exchange check issued by the Krasnoyarsk Yenisei Mutual Credit Company in 1919, presented in AU condition with visible patina of age. The note features exceptionally ornate engraved decorative borders with elaborate floral and geometric patterns in corners and throughout, characteristic of high-quality financial instruments of the Russian Civil War era. The handwritten signatures of board members and accountant are clearly visible, and while the note shows expected age-related discoloration and creasing consistent with circulation during this tumultuous period, the fine engraving and color printing remain well-preserved.
Uncommon. While regional credit organization notes from the Russian Civil War period are not as widely circulated or collected as central government currency, the Krasnoyarsk Yenisei Mutual Credit Company's issues represent a specific and geographically limited issuer. Pick catalog designation (P-S970a) indicates this is a catalogued variety, suggesting surviving examples exist but are not abundant. The AU condition grade is superior to most surviving specimens, which typically show heavier wear from circulation during the inflationary and chaotic 1919-1921 period. Collector demand for Siberian regional issues is more specialized than for mainstream Russian Imperial or early Soviet notes, which moderates both availability and value.
This exchange check represents a fascinating monetary artifact from the Russian Civil War period (1918-1922), when the Bolshevik government's control over currency was incomplete and regional credit organizations issued their own negotiable instruments. The Krasnoyarsk Yenisei Mutual Credit Company's issuance of these denominated checks reflects the chaos of wartime finance in Siberia, where traditional banking structures struggled to function alongside Soviet authority. The ornate engraving and formal presentation—with designated signatures from board members and accountants—demonstrates that even amid revolutionary upheaval, financial institutions maintained pre-revolutionary standards of security printing and legitimacy.
The banknote employs a symmetrical design centered on ornate security printing typical of early 20th-century Russian financial instruments. The front features a cream/beige field with dark brown and purple-black ink, framed by elaborate rectangular borders composed of interlocking geometric and floral scrollwork. Four corner positions display ornate circular medallion patterns with radiating geometric designs—these are security elements characteristic of engraved currency rather than portraits or landmarks. The central area contains the denomination text and issuer information with spaces for handwritten signatures (two visible: one for board member/chairman, one for accountant/secretary). The reverse side showcases a dominant large circular ornate medallion in the center—likely containing a numeral or emblem—surrounded by an intensive repeating pattern of fine floral and geometric engravings covering the entire background. The color palette shifts to predominantly purple and violet tones on the reverse, with the cream/beige paper showing through. This design approach prioritizes security through engraved complexity rather than portraiture, reflecting Russian Imperial banking practice.
FRONT SIDE: 'РАЗМЕННЫЙ ЧЕКЪ' (Exchange Check) / 'ДВАДЦАТЬ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ' (Twenty-Five Rubles) / 'предъявителю сего выдается изъ разменной кассы Краснодарск, пред. 9-б и сед. наличными.' (The bearer hereof shall receive from the exchange office [location], chairman and secretary in cash) / 'членъ Правл.' (Board Member) / 'Бухгалтеръ' (Accountant) // BACK SIDE: 'КРАСНОДАРСКОЕ ЕНИC. Г. ОБ° ВЗАИМН. КРЕДИТА.' (Krasnodar-Yenisei Society of Mutual Credit) / 'КРЕДИТ' (Credit) / Numerical denomination: '100' [or reference value] / 'Разменные чеки обязательны...' (Exchange checks are obligatory...[text partially degraded]) / 'Поддельки селове престпуется законом.' (Counterfeits are punishable by law)
Intaglio engraving (copperplate printing) executed on high-quality paper stock. The fine-line work visible in the geometric borders, floral patterns, and ornamental medallions is consistent with professional security printing from the Imperial Russian era. The multi-color application (dark ink on cream stock with secondary purple tones on reverse) suggests sequential passes through the press. The handwritten signatures were added post-printing in manuscript form. This security printing likely originated from an established Russian security printer, possibly continuing operations from the pre-revolutionary period despite Civil War disruptions.
Pick catalog reference P-S970a indicates this is variety 'a' of the 25 Rublei denomination from this issuer. Varieties typically distinguish between different signature combinations, printing runs, or serial number series. The specific signatures visible on the front (board member and accountant) would be used to identify the precise variety—these typically correspond to different administrative periods or batches. The notation '9-б' (9-b) visible in the text may indicate a specific branch or administrative division. Further cataloging would require comparison with other known specimens to confirm whether this represents the 'a' variety through signature analysis or serial number prefixes (not clearly legible in the provided images).
