Russian Empire 25 Ruble Assignat, 1809 (1786-1819 Period)
The assignat features a simple, monochromatic design characteristic of early Russian paper currency. It is text-heavy with minimal decorative elements, printed in black ink on light-brown paper. The denomination 'ДВАДЦАТЬ ПЯТЬ' (Twenty-Five) is prominently displayed within a bordered box. Key information like the state's guarantee, year of issue, and serial numbers are printed in Cyrillic script. The design includes spaces for handwritten signatures of the issuing bank's officials.
Description
This is a 25 Ruble assignat issued by the Russian Empire in 1809, falling within the 1786-1819 period of assignat issuance. Assignats were the first paper currency of Russia, introduced by Catherine the Great, and played a crucial role in financing state expenditures. This particular note states: 'Объявителю сей Государственной ассигнации платить ассигнационный банк ДВАДЦАТЬ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ ходячею монетою' (To the bearer of this State assignat, the Assignat Bank shall pay TWENTY-FIVE RUBLES in circulating coin). Despite this promise, assignats often suffered from depreciation due to over-issuance, especially during periods of war. The note features a serial number N.3355485, printed twice at the bottom, and another identifier N.3355 86 at the top. It bears the handwritten signatures of the Director and Cashier, essential for its validity at the time. This specific denomination of 25 rubles was part of a series that included 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ruble notes. Such assignats offer valuable insight into the monetary history and economic conditions of the Russian Empire in the early 19th century.