Russian Empire 25 Ruble Assignat, 1800 (1786-1819 Period)
The assignat features a prominent double-headed eagle, a symbol of the Russian Empire, crowned on both heads and with a larger imperial crown above. The eagle holds a scepter in its right talon and an orb in its left, with the denomination '25' enclosed in a shield on its chest, rather than the traditional St. George. The central text is framed by an ornate rectangular border, flanked by decorative vertical panels featuring floral motifs and small crowns. The overall design is typical of early Russian paper currency, emphasizing imperial authority and the note's face value.
Description
This is a 25 Ruble assignat issued by the Russian Empire, dating to the 1800-1802 period, falling within the 1786-1819 era of assignat circulation. These notes were a crucial part of the Russian financial system during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, particularly during the reigns of Emperor Paul I and the early years of Alexander I. The banknote features the imperial double-headed eagle with the denomination '25' on its chest, a distinctive characteristic of this issue type. The central inscription states: 'To the bearer of this State Assignat, the Assignation Bank shall pay TWENTY-FIVE RUBLES in circulating coin.' (Объявителю сей Государственной Ассигнации платить Ассигнаціонный Банкъ ДВАДЦАТЬ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ ходячею монетою). Below the main text are the handwritten signatures of the Manager (Управляющiй) and Cashier (Кассиръ), characteristic of this period's authentication process. The serial number N° 6089048 is printed twice at the bottom. This particular note represents a significant piece of Russian monetary history, illustrating the early forms of paper currency and the economic policies of the Russian Empire.