Russian Empire 20 Kopeck Assignat, 1837 (Grand Duchy of Finland Issue)
Russian Empire
1837
1819-1843
N° 173999
Style
This banknote features a monochrome design, predominantly in black ink on light paper, characteristic of assignats from the Russian Empire. The central motif at the top is the Imperial double-headed eagle, crowned and holding a scepter and orb, symbolizing Russian authority over the Grand Duchy of Finland. Below the eagle, the denomination 'Tjugu Kopek' is elegantly rendered in large, elaborate calligraphic script (Swedish for 'Twenty Kopecks'). The note includes significant multilingual text: Swedish is prominent in the upper informational block regarding the 'STORFURSTENDÖMET FINLANDS WÄXEL - DEPOSITIONS-OCH LÅNE-BANK' (Grand Duchy of Finland's Exchange, Deposit and Loan Bank); Russian for 'ДВАДЦАТЬ КОПЕЕКЪ'; and Finnish for 'Kaxi kymmendä kopekaa', reflecting the trilingual administration of Finland. The lower-left corner prominently displays '20 KOP' within a rectangular border, confirming the denomination. Two rectangular blank areas with fine grid patterns are reserved for official signatures, adding to the note's authenticity.
Description
This is a historically significant 20 Kopeck Assignat issued in 1837 for the Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous part of the Russian Empire. These notes were issued by the Exchange, Deposit and Loan Bank of Finland (later the Bank of Finland), and represented deposits of Russian Imperial assignats, acting as a form of local currency within the Grand Duchy. The note's multilingual design, featuring Swedish, Russian, and Finnish texts, is a testament to Finland's unique administrative status and cultural landscape under Russian rule. The Imperial double-headed eagle prominently displayed signifies the overarching authority of the Russian Tsar. This particular assignat bears the serial number N° 173999 and the year of issue 'ÅR 1837'. It falls into the 1819-1843 period of Russian assignat issues. A visible signature is that of G. W. Stjernvall, who served as a director of the Bank of Finland, adding an important historical connection to the note. This note is collectible for its historical context, multilingual text, and its connection to both Russian Imperial and Finnish banking history. Note: The denomination is 20 Kopecks, which equals 0.2 Rubles, and therefore does not fit the provided list of integer Ruble denominations.