Russian Empire 5 Ruble Assignat, 1812 (1786-1819 Series, P.K. Klyuchinsky Signature)
This assignat features a characteristic design of the Russian Empire banknotes from the early 19th century. Printed in monochrome blue ink, it has an ornate rectangular border with subtle decorative elements in the corners. The central design prominently displays the crowned double-headed Imperial eagle, a symbol of the Russian Empire, holding a shield with the denomination '5' on its chest, surrounded by olive branches. The primary text, indicating the note's redemption by the Assignation Bank, is centrally placed in Cyrillic script. Below, there are spaces for handwritten signatures of the bank's director and cashier, along with the serial and series numbers.
Description
This is a 5 Ruble Assignat from the Russian Empire, issued during the period of 1786-1819. While the note itself doesn't explicitly state a specific year beyond 'ГОДА' (Year) on the right and '1530' as a series number on the left, the signature of Director P.K. Klyuchinsky (Управляющий П.К. Ключинский) confirms its issuance between 1809 and 1817. Therefore, 1812 is chosen as a representative year within his tenure. The note's central text reads: 'Объявителю сей государственной ассигнации нашъ платитъ Ассигнационный Банкъ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ ходячею монетою.' (To the bearer of this state assignat, our Assignation Bank will pay FIVE RUBLES in circulating coin). This type of assignat, printed on blue paper, was a crucial part of the Russian monetary system during a period of significant economic and military challenges, including the Napoleonic Wars. Collectors value these notes for their historical significance and the insights they provide into the financial practices of the era. The series number '1530' and serial number 'N° 879514' further detail this specific issue.