5 rublei 1918

Common. While this is a regional branch issue from the Russian Civil War period, the Arkhangelsk Branch operated for several years (1918-1922) and issued notes in multiple denominations and varieties. No specific evidence of extremely limited print runs or early recall exists. The Pick catalog lists only one primary variant for P-S102, and PMG's population report confirms catalog coverage without indicating scarcity. Regional Russian Civil War notes from established branches like Arkhangelsk, though less common than Moscow/St. Petersburg issues, remain obtainable for collectors at modest premiums over base Russian Soviet notes.

This 5 ruble note was issued by the Arkhangelsk Branch during the Russian Civil War (1918-1922) when regional branches of the State Bank were authorized to issue emergency currency. The note explicitly states it was 'temporarily issued' and accepted regionally in parallel with standard credit notes, reflecting the administrative fragmentation and monetary chaos of the period. The formal classical design and references to both the State Bank and Arkhangelsk Provincial authorities emphasize the attempt to maintain financial legitimacy during the White Russian control of North Russia.

The note features a classical, symmetrically balanced design typical of early 20th-century Russian currency. The reverse (back) side is the primary design element, featuring two allegorical female figures in classical Greco-Roman robes positioned on either side of a central octagonal frame containing the denomination and authority text. The figures represent Commerce or Finance and Justice or Prosperity, depicted in the neoclassical style favored by Imperial Russian banks. Two ornamental Corinthian or Doric columns with fluted shafts flank the central composition, emphasizing stability and official authority. All four corners contain circular medallions displaying the numeral '5' in ornate frames. The obverse (front) side presents a more text-dominant layout with the same ornamental corner medallions and decorative botanical and geometric border patterns. Throughout both sides, fine line engraving creates sophisticated geometric and botanical patterns in the borders and frames, typical of security printing from this era.

FRONT SIDE: 'ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ' (Five Rubles) | 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК' (State Bank) | 'временно выпускаемые' (temporarily issued) | 'АРХАНГЕЛЬСКИМ ОТДЕЛЕНИЕМ государственного банка' (By the Arkhangelsk Branch of the State Bank) | 'и по приказу Архангельской губернии объявляется' (and by order of Arkhangelsk Province is announced) | 'по областному параллелю с кредитными билетами' (to be accepted regionally in parallel with credit notes) | 'Подлежит предъявлен законом' (Subject to presentation by law) | 'АРХАНГЕЛЬСКОЕ ОТДЕЛЕНИЕ' (Arkhangelsk Branch) | BACK SIDE: 'ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ' (Five Rubles) | 'Представитель сего цена иметь получить или нассы АРХАНГЕЛЬСКАГО ОТДЕЛЕНИЯ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННАГО БАНКА или одного иче казначейство Архангельской губернии ПЯТЬ рублей' (The holder of this note may receive its value from the ARKHANGELSK BRANCH OF THE STATE BANK or from one of the treasuries of Arkhangelsk Province FIVE rubles) | 'и.о. Управляющего' (Acting Manager) | 'Комиссар' (Commissar) | 'Кассир' (Cashier) | 'ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ БАНК АРХАНГЕЛЬСКОЕ ОТДЕЛЕНИЕ' (STATE BANK ARKHANGELSK BRANCH)

Intaglio engraving (copperplate/steel plate engraving), the standard security printing method for Russian banknotes of this period. The sharp, fine detail visible in the allegorical figures, ornamental columns, decorative borders, and corner medallions indicates high-quality steel plate engraving with careful registration. The consistent line work and crisp impressions suggest printing by a skilled security printer, likely the State Bank's own printing facilities or a contracted specialist printer in St. Petersburg or Moscow, though specific printer attribution for Arkhangelsk branch issues is not definitively established in standard catalogs.

P-S102 represents the standard Arkhangelsk Branch 5 Ruble issue of 1918. PMG catalogs one variant for this Pick number. Known varieties for this issue may include different signature combinations (Acting Manager, Commissar, and Cashier signatures appear on the back), though the base design remained consistent. Serial number prefixes and specific date variations have been documented for different printings, but without visible serial number details in the current images, variety determination at the signature/serial level cannot be definitively established. The note should be examined for specific signature combinations and serial numbering to identify the precise sub-variety.