5 rublei 1917
“Sig.Y.Metz”
About This Note
An exceptional example of a Russian Imperial 5 ruble State Credit Note from the 1909 issue, presented in EF condition with pristine, uncirculated characteristics. The note displays the hallmark Art Nouveau ornamental design of the Imperial Russian banking era, featuring the double-headed eagle coat of arms in elaborate oval cartouches on both sides, surrounded by intricate floral borders and fine line work. This well-preserved specimen showcases the sophisticated multi-color printing and complex engraving that characterized pre-revolutionary Russian currency, making it an important example of Imperial numismatic artistry.
common. The 1909 Imperial Russian 5 ruble issue was produced in substantial quantities as part of the standard circulating currency of the Russian Empire. While this particular specimen is in exceptional EF/uncirculated condition (which enhances its value to collectors), the denomination and issue are well-represented in collections. The Pick catalog number P-35(2-8) designation suggests this is one of several varieties within the standard 5 ruble issue, not a limited or short-run variant. Russian Imperial notes of this denomination regularly appear in the numismatic market at modest price points, confirming their availability and common status.
This 5 ruble note was issued during the final decades of the Russian Empire under the gold standard system, as evidenced by the prominent inscriptions guaranteeing exchange for gold coin at the rate of 1 ruble = 1/15 imperial. The reverse displays the Imperial coat of arms with crown and the heraldic shields of various Russian Empire regions, symbolizing the centralized authority of the Tsarist state at a time of increasing political instability that would culminate in the 1917 revolutions. The note's declaration that counterfeiting carries penalties of deprivation of rights and penal labor reflects the severe imperial legal framework of the period.
The 5 ruble note features the Russian Imperial double-headed eagle as its central heraldic emblem, rendered with exceptional detail and crowned with the imperial cross-topped crown. The front displays the eagle within an ornate oval cartouche against a cream and beige background, with the denomination '5' in decorative circular medallions at all four corners. The reverse presents a more elaborate composition with the crowned double-headed eagle of the Russian Empire prominently displayed, holding an orb and scepter in its talons, accompanied by a complex arrangement of heraldic shields representing the various constituent regions and territories of the Russian Empire arrayed below. Both sides are framed by intricate Art Nouveau floral scrollwork and ornamental borders in blue-black, tan, and ochre tones. The design reflects the late Imperial aesthetic and emphasizes the wealth and territorial extent of the Russian state through its heraldic symbolism.
FRONT SIDE: '5' (denomination); '1909' (date); 'УА-177' (serial number designation); 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ КРЕДИТНЫЙ БИЛЕТ' (State Credit Note); 'ПЯТЕРУБЛЕЙ' (Five Rubles); 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК РАЗМЫВАЕТ КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ БЕЗ ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ СУММЫ (1 РУБЛЬ = 1/15 ИМПЕРИАЛА, СОДЕРЖИТ 17,424 ДОЛЕЙ ЧИСТОГО ЗОЛОТА)' (The State Bank exchanges credit notes for gold coin without limit of sum [1 ruble = 1/15 imperial, contains 17.424 parts of pure gold]); 'Управляющий' (Managing Director); 'Кассир' (Cashier). BACK SIDE: '5' (denomination); 'ПЯТЕРУБЛЕЙ' (Five Rubles); 'РАЗМЕН ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ НА ЗОЛОТУЮ МОНЕТУ ОБЕСПЕЧИВАЕТСЯ ВСЕМ ДОСТОЯНИЕМ ГОСУДАРСТВА. ГОС. КРЕДИТНЫЕ БИЛЕТЫ ИМЕЮТ ХОЖДЕНИЕ ВО ВСЕЙ ИМПЕРИИ НАРАВНЕ СО ЗОЛОТОЮ МОНЕТОЮ. И ЗА ПОДДЕЛКУ КРЕДИТНЫХ БИЛЕТОВ ВИНОВНЫЕ ПОДВЕРГАЮТСЯ ЛИШЕНИЮ ВСЕХ ПРАВ СОСТОЯНИЯ И ССЫЛКЕ В КАТОРЖНУЮ РАБОТУ.' (The exchange of state credit notes for gold coin is ensured by all the wealth of the state. State credit notes are legal tender throughout the Empire on equal terms with gold coin. For counterfeiting credit notes, the guilty are subject to deprivation of all rights of state and exile to penal labor).
Steel engraving with multi-color printing. The note exhibits the characteristic fine line work, complex ornamental patterns, and sharp definition typical of high-security intaglio printing used by the Imperial Russian State Bank. The multiple color layers (cream/beige base with blue-black, pink/mauve, and pale blue-green overlays) and the intricate detail visible in both the coat of arms and border decorations indicate sophisticated chromolithographic or multi-plate engraving techniques. The printer for this series is not specified in the provided data, but Imperial Russian credit notes of this era were produced under strict state security protocols.
This note is cataloged as Pick P-35(2-8), which denotes a specific variety within the 1909 Imperial Russian 5 ruble issue. The serial number visible as 'УА-177' indicates the UA series prefix. The date '1909' on the front establishes this as part of the main Imperial circulation series. The specific Pick designation (2-8) suggests this represents one of multiple documented variations within the 1909 5 ruble printing, though without access to detailed Pick catalog descriptions, the precise distinguishing characteristics of this particular variety (such as signature variations, printer markings, or minor design elements) cannot be definitively identified from the visual analysis alone.
