5 rublei 1909
“Sig.Y.Metz”
About This Note
This is an exceptional example of Russia's 1909 5 Rubles credit note (Pick 10b(8)), presenting in uncirculated condition with pristine color and sharp engraving details. The note features the iconic double-headed imperial eagle rendered in intricate detail on both sides, surrounded by complex heraldic shields, ornamental framing, and botanical motifs characteristic of Russian Imperial banknote design. The vibrant peachy-pink and blue color palette remains striking, and the fine line work throughout demonstrates the sophisticated security printing techniques employed by the Russian State Bank during the late Imperial period.
Common. The 1909 5 Rubles issue (Pick 10b) was part of a standard circulation series with substantial print runs. While the Russian Revolution and Soviet era resulted in significant attrition of Imperial-era banknotes, examples continue to appear in the market with reasonable regularity. Uncirculated examples command modest premiums over circulated specimens, but the denomination and issue year are not particularly scarce in the global collector market. The specific signature combination (Sig. Y. Metz) and serial number variant do not appear to be documented as exceptionally rare varieties.
Issued during the final decade of Tsarist Russia, this 1909 credit note represents the State Bank's commitment to gold-standard backing, as explicitly stated in the inscriptions referencing the redemption guarantee and gold content (17.424 parts pure gold per ruble). The elaborate heraldic eagle with imperial regalia and surrounding regional shields symbolized the centralized authority and vast territorial extent of the Russian Empire. This note type circulated during a period of relative financial stability before the upheaval of World War I and the Russian Revolution.
This 5 Rubles note exemplifies the pinnacle of Russian Imperial banknote artistry. The obverse features the Imperial coat of arms—the double-headed eagle with crown—centered in an ornamental oval frame at the top, flanked by denomination cartouches containing the numeral '5'. The main field employs a peachy-pink background with blue-black typography, bordered by intricate scrollwork and botanical sprays. The reverse showcases the double-headed eagle in heraldic presentation with spread wings and imperial crown, surrounded by a complex arrangement of regional heraldic shields integrated into the eagle's body, symbolizing the empire's constituent territories and administrative regions. Ornamental garlands of laurel wreaths and floral elements frame this central emblem, emphasizing imperial power and legitimacy. Serial number and signature spaces appear prominently on both sides. The overall composition reflects late 19th-century security printing sophistication.
FRONT SIDE: Denomination numerals and date: '5' (upper corners), '1909'. Serial number: 'ИХ 953087'. Main text: 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ' (State Credit Note), 'ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ' (Five Rubles). Legal text: 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК РАЗМЕЩИВАЕТ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ БЕЗЪ ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ СУММЫ' (The State Bank issues credit notes in gold coin without limit of sum), 'РУБЛЬ = 1/15 ИМПЕРИАЛ, СОДЕРЖИТ (17,424 ДОЛЕЙ ЧИСТОГО ЗОЛОТА)' (Ruble = 1/15 Imperial, contains 17.424 parts pure gold). Signature lines: 'Управляющий Банк' (Bank Manager), 'Кассир Гос Банк' (Cashier State Bank). BACK SIDE: Denomination: 'ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ' (Five Rubles), '5' (corners). Legal text: '1. РАЗМЕН ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ ОБЕСПЕЧИВАЕТСЯ ВСЕМИ ДОСТОЯНИЕМ ГОСУДАРСТВА. В ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЕ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ ИМЕЮТ ХОЖДЕНИЕ ВО ВСЕМ ИМПЕРИИ НАРАВНЕ СО ЗВОНКОЮ МОНЕТОЮ. 3. ЗА ПОДДЕЛЬКУ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ ВИНОВНЫЕ ПОДВЕРГАЮТСЯ ЛИШЕНИЮ ВСЕХ ПРАВ СОСТОЯНИЯ И ССЫЛКЕ НА КАТОРЖНУЮ РАБОТУ' (1. The redemption of state credit notes for gold coin is guaranteed by all the wealth of the state. State credit notes circulate throughout the entire empire on par with hard currency. 3. For counterfeiting credit notes, offenders are subject to deprivation of all rights of estate and exile to hard labor.)
Line engraving and intaglio printing on specialized banknote paper with security watermarks. The Russian State Bank's credit notes of this period were produced using multi-color intaglio techniques, employing separate color plates for the blue and peachy-pink elements to prevent counterfeiting. The fine line work, minute typography, and intricate cross-hatching visible throughout the design are characteristic of steel or copper plate engraving. The precise color separation and registration between the blue borders/text and pink background elements demonstrate advanced security printing standards for the early 1900s.
Pick 10b(8) notation indicates this is variety 8 within the Pick 10b classification for the 1909 5 Rubles issue. Varieties of this note are typically distinguished by signature combinations and serial number prefixes. The noted signature 'Y. Metz' (likely representing a bank official's name transliterated from Russian) helps identify the specific printing run or issuing period. Serial number ИХ 953087 suggests a mid-range serial from the issue's production. No overprints or significant alterations are visible, indicating this as a standard circulation variety rather than a special issue or emergency variant.
