Early Soviet Banknote Issues

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A year following the revolution that toppled over 300 years of tsarist rule, the communist government established the RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC in 1918. The first series of notes of the Soviet order bore the same double headed eagle that appears on the White Government issues. An official state arms was created in late 1918, but wouldn't appear on their currency till a year later in 1919. This same emblem was used on notes issued between 1919 and 1923.



RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~1,000 Ruble 1918



RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~1,000 Ruble 1919

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In December 1922, the republics of Russia, Byelorussia (Belarus) and Ukraine united to form the 'UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS'. The new federation also included several autonomous republics and other regions. Between 1924 and 1939 the U.S.S.R. would re-aquire most of the territories that were under the Russian Empire. The earliest series of notes for the U.S.S.R. were printed in 1923, but weren't circulated until 1924. The first specimen listed is a 10,000 Ruble note dated 1923, and the second is a 1 Chervonets (equals 10 Rubles) note dated 1926.



UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS~10,000 Ruble 1923 (1924)



UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS~1 Chervonets 1926

[coinsarefun]

That's very cool. I sent a link to my Uncle who is Russian

[Zantetsuken]

Thanks Stephanie. I was just about to post some more issues that I have ranging from the Baltic coast to the Far East and outlying regions. I was hoping the images look good enough since they were scanned.

[coinsarefun]

The images look great, let's see more

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Numerous territories declared independence after the Russian Empire fragmented in 1917. The Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania declared independence in 1918,  however, Soviet influence was felt in these areas as well. One example was a series of municipal notes issued for the 'RIGA WORKERS DEPUTIES SOVIET' in Latvia. The specimen listed is 5 Rubli note dated 1919. Latvia and the other Baltic republics were able to maintain their independence until the Soviet Union invaded in 1939, and then officially made Soviet republics a year later in 1940.



RIGA (SOVIET-MUNICIPAL)~5 Rubli 1919

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During the Russian Civil War between 1917 and 1921, the Soviets had been fighting fiercely to hold on to control to what terriitory they had. One area they had a brief control of was ARKHANGELSK~SOVIET on the Arctic coast in north Russia in 1918. Later that same year the White regiment, along with their allies pushed the Soviets out, and took temporary control of the district. The specimen posted is a 25 Ruble note that dates from 1918 for the Soviet goverment.  These same notes were counter-stamped later on the reverse in red ink with a double headed eagle and Russian legend to be used under the White administration.



ARKHANGELSK (SOVIET-MUNICIPAL)~25 Ruble <1918>

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Another area that had been rocked by the war was North Caucasia. Like in Arkhangelsk, North Caucasia was initially controlled by the Soviets from 1918 to 1919 until they were forced to flee.  A temporary state called the Emirate of North Caucasia was established in 1919, then the territory was recaptured by the Soviets in 1920. The specimen posted is a 25 Ruble note for the NORTH CAUCASIAN SOVIET REPUBLIC dated 1918.



NORTH CAUCASIAN SOVIET REPUBLIC~25 Ruble 1918

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The next four frames will be dealing with notes from the Transcaucasian region. The first set are notes from the ARMENIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC. Armenia became independent in 1918 and remained so until they were conquered by the Soviets in 1920. The first specimen is a 5,000 Ruble note dated 1921, and the second is a 100,000 Ruble note dated 1922. Due to the crude printing methods the 100,000 Ruble note show weak and uneven spots especially on the reverse side.



ARMENIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~5,000 Ruble 1921



ARMENIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~100,000 Ruble 1922

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The second set of notes are from the AZERBAIJAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC. Azerbaijan was an independent republic from 1918 to 1920 when it fell to the Soviets. The first specimen is a 1,000 Ruble note dated 1338 AH/1920 AD, the second is a 1,000,000 Ruble note dated 1340 AH/1922 AD. and the third is a 5,000,000 Ruble note from 1341 AH/1923 AD. The third specimen was the last issue before Azerbaijan was incorporated into the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic.



AZERBAIJAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~1,000 Ruble 1338 AH/1920 AD



AZERBAIJAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~1,000,000 Ruble 1340 AH/1922 AD



AZERBAIJAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC~5,000,000 Ruble 1341 AH/1923 AD