2 kopecks — Russian Empire (1915) — Treasury small change note

Photo: Treasury of the Russian Empire, via Wikimedia Commons

Banknotes of Nicholas II

State Credit Notes of the State Bank and Treasury small-change notes of the reign of Nicholas II. The series of 1895–1896 (Pick A61–A64) still promises exchange for silver or gold coin; after the Witte reform the notes of 1898–1912 carry the obligation to exchange for gold coin (Pick 1–15). The printed date does not change with the issue: the 1898 type was printed until 1914, and many designs of 1905–1912 were printed on under the Provisional Government and in the first months of Soviet power — such issues are shown as separate rows with the signature of Shipov. Signatures of the manager of the State Bank: Pleske (1898–1903), Timashev (1903–1909), Konshin (1910–1914), Shipov (from 1914). The notes were printed by the Expedition for the Preparation of State Papers.

Treasury small change notes of 1915

Cards with the Small State Emblem of 1883 (Pick 24–31) carrying a legend that they circulate on par with copper (1–5 kopecks) or small silver (10–50 kopecks) coin. They were printed by the Expedition for the Preparation of State Papers in Petrograd as an emergency measure during the metal shortage of the First World War. The 1, 2, 3 and 5 kopeck values circulated from the end of 1915 until stamp money replaced them; the 10, 15 and 20 kopeck cards were never issued because stamp money of the same denomination took their place at once.

Other items of the period

• 1 kopeck (1915) — Treasury small change note Pick# 24
• 2 kopecks (1915) — Treasury small change note Pick# 25
• 3 kopecks (1915) — Treasury small change note Pick# 26
• 5 kopecks (1915) — Treasury small change note Pick# 27
• 10 kopecks (1915) — Treasury small change note Pick# 28
• 15 kopecks (1915) — Treasury small change note Pick# 29
• 20 kopecks (1915) — Treasury small change note Pick# 30
• 50 kopecks (1915) — Treasury small change note Pick# 31