Russian Empire 25 Ruble Assignat, 1802 (Kovelyanskoy-Yakovlev Signatures)
The banknote features a classic early 19th-century Russian assignat design. The central motif is the double-headed eagle of the Russian Empire, crowned, holding a scepter and orb, with the denomination '25' prominently displayed on its chest. The main text, 'ОБЪЯВИТЕЛЮ СЕЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ АССИГНАЦИИ ПЛАТИТЬ АССИГНАЦIОННЫЙ БАНКЪ ДВАДЦАТЬ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ ХОДЯЧЕЮ МОНЕТОЮ.' (The bearer of this state assignat is to be paid by the Assignation Bank Twenty-Five Rubles in circulating coin.), is enclosed within a rectangular frame. Ornate floral and geometric patterns form a decorative border along the sides and bottom, including oval frames with the number '25' in the lower corners. The printing is monochromatic, typically in brown or black ink on a light paper.
Description
This is a 25 Ruble Assignat issued by the Russian Empire, typically cataloged as the 1802 issue, although assignats of this type were produced around 1800-1802. These notes were part of a series introduced under Emperor Paul I and continued under Alexander I, aimed at stabilizing the financial system after earlier emissions. The assignat features the double-headed eagle with the denomination '25' on its chest, a distinctive characteristic for this period. It bears the engraved signatures of K. Kovelyanskoy as 'Управляющий' (Manager/Director) and Yakovlev as 'Кассиръ' (Cashier), which are crucial for precise identification and dating. Assignats played a vital role in the Russian economy until their gradual replacement by credit notes in the mid-19th century. This specific note, with serial number N°5001990, represents a significant piece of Russian monetary history, reflecting the economic policies and printing capabilities of the early 19th century.