500 rublei 1921
About This Note
This is an exceptional example of a Soviet 500 Rubles note from 1921 (Pick P-111b), presenting in EF condition with sharp printing throughout and no visible wear. The obverse features an elaborate ornamental design centered on the Soviet coat of arms (hammer and sickle) within a laurel wreath, surrounded by intricate floral and geometric borders in dark ink on a cream background. The reverse exhibits a uniform diagonal crosshatch security pattern, characteristic of early Soviet currency design and printing standards of the period.
Common. The 500 Rubles denomination from 1921 was part of a standard series issued in significant quantities by the Soviet State Treasury. Pick P-111b does not appear in specialized literature as a particularly scarce variety, and examples regularly appear in collector markets. While EF condition examples command prices reflecting their excellent preservation, the note itself is not rare from a print run or issuing perspective.
This banknote was issued during the early Soviet period by the State Treasury of the R.S.F.S.R., just four years after the Bolshevik Revolution. The prominent Soviet coat of arms and laurel wreath symbolize the revolutionary government's consolidation of power, while the inscription 'Is guaranteed by all the assets of the Republic' reflects the ideological commitment to backing currency with state resources during the tumultuous early years of the USSR. The 1921 date places this note during the period of War Communism's end and the beginning of the New Economic Policy (NEP).
The obverse displays a formal, symmetrical design centered on the State Emblem of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic—the hammer and sickle enclosed within a wreath of laurel leaves, symbolizing labor and victory. The emblem is surrounded by an ornate rectangular border composed of interlocking floral and geometric patterns typical of early Soviet artistic design. The denomination '500' appears prominently on both the left and right margins in large numerals. The note's color scheme consists of cream or beige paper with dark gray and black printing ink. The reverse side is completely covered with a diagonal crosshatch or herringbone pattern in light gray/beige tones, serving as a security feature and anti-counterfeiting measure.
Front side: 'ПЯТЬСОТ РУБЛЕЙ' (Five Hundred Rubles), 'РАСЧЕТНЫЙ ЗНАК' (Clearing Mark/Settlement Note), '500' (numeric denomination), 'РУБЛЕЙ' (Rubles), '1921' (date), 'ОБЕСПЕЧИВАЕТСЯ ВСЕМ ДОСТОЯНИЕМ РЕСПУБЛИКИ' (Is guaranteed by all the assets of the Republic), with 'ПЯТЬСОТ РУБЛЕЙ' repeated. Back side: No inscriptions; features only decorative security pattern.
Letterpress (relief) printing, characteristic of early Soviet currency production. The sharp, crisp impressions of the border designs and central emblem, combined with the uniform diagonal crosshatch pattern on the reverse, are consistent with high-quality letterpress technology employed by Soviet state printing facilities. The intricate line work visible in the decorative elements indicates steel or copper plate engraving combined with letterpress reproduction.
Pick P-111b represents a specific cataloging designation within the 1921 500 Rubles series. No distinguishing signatures, serial number prefixes, or significant overprints are visible in this example. Varieties within this denomination typically relate to minor design modifications or printer marks rather than major design changes. The uniform appearance and standard design elements confirm this as the typical variety for this Pick number.
