50 kopeek 1918
About This Note
This 50 kopeck note from 1918 issued by the Ekaterindar State Bank Branch represents an important artifact from Russia's tumultuous post-Revolution period. The note features an elegant baroque-style design with an ornate central medallion containing the denomination, flanked by allegorical female figures and intricate decorative scrollwork rendered in dark navy blue ink on a tan/beige background. In AU condition, this example displays age-appropriate patina and foxing consistent with early 20th century currency, with no major structural damage, making it a solid collectible specimen from this historically significant regional issuer.
Common. The 50 kopeck denomination from the 1918 Ekaterindar State Bank Branch represents a regional issue from the Russian Civil War period with what appear to be substantial print runs for the time. Regional Soviet and White movement bank notes from 1918 are encountered with reasonable frequency in the market. While historically significant, the denomination and issuer do not indicate limited production or recall, placing this in the common category despite its age.
The Ekaterindar State Bank Branch operated during the Russian Civil War period when various regional authorities issued their own currency. This 1918 note reflects the aesthetic conventions of Imperial Russian banknote design—ornate baroque ornamentation and allegorical female figures—even as the political order collapsed. The use of classical decorative motifs including fruit imagery suggests continuity with pre-Revolutionary design traditions, though issued under new regional authority in the volatile Kuban region.
The obverse features a symmetrical baroque design centered on an ornate circular medallion or cartouche containing the denomination '50' in large numerals. This central element is framed by elaborate scrollwork and flourishes typical of Imperial Russian currency design. Flanking the medallion on either side are allegorical female figures (likely representing Prosperity or Commerce, common themes in early 20th century Russian currency). Decorative elements including stylized fruit and produce imagery appear at the base of the design, emphasizing agricultural or commercial themes. The composition employs fine-line intaglio engraving, creating depth through the intricate hatching and scrollwork visible throughout the design.
Front side: The note bears the Cyrillic inscription 'КОП' (kop) appearing in rectangular panels on both left and right sides, abbreviated form of 'kopeck' (копейка), the monetary unit. The Arabic numeral '50' appears prominently in the central medallion, indicating the denomination as 50 kopeks.
Intaglio engraving (line engraving and possibly steel plate engraving) with fine detailed work evident in the ornamental scrollwork and security features. The dotted border line and the precision of the allegorical figures and baroque decoration indicate professional high-security currency printing methods typical of Russian state banknote production.
This specimen is cataloged as Pick S494A, indicating the 'A' variety of the 50 kopeck Ekaterindar note. Known varieties for this issue may include differences in serial number ranges, signature variations, or overprint states typical of regional Russian Civil War era notes. Visual inspection would require comparison with known examples to definitively establish whether this represents a standard or notable variety within the S494A classification.
