Russian Empire 5 Ruble Assignat, 1839 (1819-1843 Period)
The assignat features a classical design characteristic of Russian Empire banknotes from the early 19th century. It is predominantly blue-green, printed on a fine grid pattern paper, serving as an early security feature. The central motif is the Imperial double-headed eagle, crowned, with a shield on its chest bearing the denomination '5'. Intricate geometric border patterns frame the central text and design elements. The typography is in Old Cyrillic script, emphasizing the official nature of the issue.
Description
This is an authentic 5 Ruble Assignat issued by the Russian Empire in 1839. Assignats were the primary form of paper money in Russia from 1769 until the mid-19th century. This particular banknote belongs to the emissions made between 1819 and 1843. The central inscription reads: 'ОБЪЯВИТЕЛЮ СЕЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ АССИГНАЦІИ ПЛАЧЕНЪ НАЛИЧНЫМИ АССИГНАЦІОННЫЙ БАНКЪ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ ХОДЯЧЕЮ МОНЕТОЮ.' (To the bearer of this State Assignat will be paid by the Assignation Bank Five Rubles in circulating coin). The double-headed eagle emblem symbolizes the Imperial authority. The year '1839' is clearly visible in the lower left, along with 'ГОДА' (of the year) in the lower right. The serial number N° 178805 is printed twice for security. This assignat bears the handwritten signatures of the Manager (Управляющий А. Кузнецовъ) and the Cashier (Кассиръ А. Деляновъ), which are typical for this period and denomination. Despite its worn condition, it represents a significant piece of Russian monetary history, illustrating the currency system during the reign of Nicholas I.