Russian Empire 5 Ruble Assignat, 1829 (1819-1843 Period)
The banknote features a monochromatic blue print on a thin paper. The central design element is the double-headed imperial eagle crowned, holding a scepter and an orb, with the denomination '5' inscribed within a shield on its chest. Below the eagle is the pledge text. The denomination 'ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ' (Five Rubles) is prominently displayed. The borders are composed of intricate geometric patterns. The year '1829' appears in a stylized cartouche in the bottom left corner and more explicitly as 'ГОДЪ 1829' (Year 1829) in the bottom right. Signatures of the manager and cashier are handwritten below the main text block.
Description
This is a 5 Ruble Russian Assignat issued in 1829, part of the extensive 1819-1843 series. These assignats represent an important phase in the financial history of the Russian Empire, serving as state-issued paper money intended to supplement metallic currency. The design, with the imperial double-headed eagle and the explicit pledge 'The bearer of this State Assignat will be paid FIVE RUBLES in circulating coin by the State Bank', reflects the government's attempt to maintain confidence in its paper currency. The blue color was characteristic for the 5 Ruble denomination during this period. Assignats of this series often bear the signatures of known financial officials of the era, making them historically significant. Despite its heavily worn and damaged condition, it offers a tangible connection to the early 19th-century Russian economy and the challenges of managing paper currency in an expanding empire.