Russia 1909 5 Rubles Imperial State Credit Note Pick #10 Serial UA-122 VF

A beautiful example of one of the most elegantly designed banknotes of the Russian Empire — the 5 Ruble State Credit Note of 1909, issued during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II, just years before the cataclysm of World War I and the Russian Revolution would bring the empire to an end.

Banknote Details:

• Country: Imperial Russia
• Denomination: 5 Rubles (Пять Рублей)
• Date: 1909
• Pick Catalog: #10
• Serial Number: УА-122
• Obverse: Ornate blue and pink design with Russian double-headed eagle at top, "Государственный Кредитный Билет" (State Credit Note), denomination in Cyrillic, signatures of Bank Manager and Cashier, gold convertibility statement
• Reverse: Magnificent Imperial coat of arms under Russian Imperial crown, flanked by military regalia and foliage, "Пять Рублей" (Five Rubles) at bottom
• Condition: VF (Very Fine) — good color, moderate circulation folds, no tears or repairs visible

Historical Context: The 1909 5 Ruble note was issued during the final decade of the Russian Empire under Tsar Nicholas II. The note explicitly states its convertibility to gold coin — "1 Ruble = 1/15 Imperial, containing 17.424 shares of pure gold" — reflecting Russia's gold standard monetary policy of the era. This convertibility ended with the outbreak of World War I in 1914. These notes continued to circulate through the revolutionary period until the Bolshevik government replaced Imperial currency. They represent the last flowering of Imperial Russian numismatic art — extraordinarily ornate by any standard — and serve as tangible artifacts of a civilization that vanished in 1917.

Condition Notes:

• Good color on both sides - blues, pinks and greens vibrant
• Moderate circulation folds visible
• No tears, pinholes or repairs noted
• Margins intact all around
• Serial number УА-122 clear and legible
• Both signatures legible