Russian Empire 5 Ruble Assignat, 1803 (1786-1819 Period)
The assignat is printed on blue paper, featuring a central design of the Imperial double-headed eagle, crowned and holding a scepter and orb, with a shield on its chest. Below the eagle, the denomination is clearly stated in Cyrillic, along with the promise to pay by the Assignation Bank. The note is bordered by a simple, repeating geometric pattern, characteristic of early Russian paper currency. Faint traces of the year '1803' are visible within an oval stamp on the right side. The overall style is functional and indicative of the early 19th-century state-issued paper money.
Description
This is a 5 Ruble Assignat issued by the Russian Empire in 1803, part of the significant paper currency emissions during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Assignats were Russia's first paper money, introduced under Catherine the Great in 1769. This specific note, from the 1803 issue, bears the iconic Imperial double-headed eagle and the standard promise to pay clause: "ОБЪЯВИТЕЛЮ СЕЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ АССИГНАЦИИ ЗАПЛАТИТЬ АССИГНАЦИОННЫЙ БАНКЪ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ ХОДЯЧЕЮ МОНЕТОЮ." (To the bearer of this State Assignat, the Assignation Bank shall pay Five Rubles in circulating coin). These notes played a crucial role in financing state affairs, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars, though often suffered from inflation and depreciation. Despite its heavily circulated and worn condition, with significant edge damage, numerous creases, and fading, it remains a tangible piece of Russian monetary history. It is a valuable item for collectors focusing on Imperial Russian numismatics, early paper currency, or the economic history of the Napoleonic era.