3 rublja 1918
“Rostov”
About This Note
An exceptionally well-preserved 3 Rubles note from 1918 issued by the Rostov branch of the Russian State Bank, representing a fascinating artifact from the tumultuous Russian Civil War period. The note exhibits the characteristic Imperial double-headed eagle and ornate engraved design typical of early Soviet-era currency, with the obverse displaying the denomination in ornate octagonal frames and the reverse featuring a Roman numeral II within a decorative wreath. In UNC condition, this note shows minimal signs of circulation despite its age, with only light yellowing and browning of the paper that is typical for notes over a century old.
Common. While this is a regional issue from a specific historical period and issuing authority, 3 Ruble notes from 1918 Russian State Bank branches were produced in substantial quantities to meet Civil War-era circulation needs. The denomination, issuer, and year combination (Pick S409d) represents a standard emission from this branch rather than a limited or recalled issue. The UNC condition grade is noteworthy and more desirable than lower grades, but the note itself is not scarce in the broader market for Russian Civil War currency.
The Rostov State Bank branch issued this note in 1918 during Russia's Civil War, when the fragmentation of central authority led regional banks to issue emergency currency. The double-headed eagle with shield—a symbol of Imperial Russia—appears on both sides, reflecting the transitional period before full Soviet consolidation. The explicit inscription affirming that this note 'is in circulation on equal terms with State credit bills' demonstrates the competing monetary authorities and the efforts to maintain economic stability during this period of revolutionary upheaval.
This note features a classical Russian Imperial design centered around the double-headed eagle with shield, a symbol of state authority that appears prominently on both the obverse and reverse. The obverse presents the denomination '3' within ornate octagonal cartouches positioned on the left and right margins, with the text 'ТРИ РУБЛЯ' dominating the center. The reverse displays the denomination expressed as a Roman numeral 'II' (indicating the second denomination unit in a series) encircled by an ornate wreath, flanked by 'РУБ' abbreviations in decorative rectangular frames. Both sides feature elaborate geometric border patterns with ornamental flourishes in all four corners, including scrollwork and possibly stylized dragons or mythical creatures characteristic of Imperial-era security printing. The design employs fine line work and intricate engraving throughout to prevent counterfeiting. The color scheme consists of warm earth tones—tan, beige, and browns on the obverse—with greenish and cream tones predominating on the reverse, typical of the printing practices of this era.
FRONT SIDE: 'ТРИ РУБЛЯ' (Three Rubles) - main denomination text. 'Настоящий денежный знак выпущен в Ростовской н.Д. Конторой Государственнаго Банка и имеет хождение наравне с Государственными кредитными билетами.' (This monetary sign was issued by the Rostov branch of the State Bank and is in circulation on equal terms with State credit bills.) 'УПРАВЛЯЮЩИЙ' (Managing Director) and 'КАССИР' (Cashier) - signature line titles. '1918' (year). 'АД-99' (serial designation). BACK SIDE: 'РУБ' (Rubles - abbreviated form). 'II' (Roman numeral two, part of denomination representation). 'Настоящий денежный знак обязателен к приему в платежи всеми Правительственными и частными учреждениями, а также при расчетах между частными лицами.' (This monetary sign is mandatory for acceptance in payments by all Government and private institutions, as well as in settlements between private individuals.) 'Подделка денежных знаков преследуется законом.' (Counterfeiting of monetary signs is prosecuted by law.)
Intaglio (steel engraving) printing technique, evidenced by the fine line work, intricate border patterns, and detailed ornamentation visible throughout both sides of the note. The depth of detail in the decorative elements and the security features suggest this was produced by a professional security printer. For Rostov State Bank notes of this period, printing was typically handled by established Imperial printing facilities adapted for emergency Civil War currency production.
The serial designation 'АД-99' visible on this example represents part of the variety identification system for Rostov branch emissions. The specific serial prefix and numbering scheme may indicate a particular printing run or administrative batch. Varieties for Pick S409d may be distinguished by different serial number prefixes, signature variations of the Managing Director and Cashier, or minor design elements across different printings. Collectors should note variations in paper color (ranging from cream to light green tints observed on the reverse), which may indicate different production batches or printing dates within the 1918 emission period.
