5 rubles — Russian Empire (1840) — Deposit note

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Deposit notes and the credit note of 1840–1841

The first steps of Kankrin's currency reform. The deposit notes of the State Commercial Bank (3, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 roubles) were issued in 1839–1843 and were fully backed by silver coin: the bank redeemed them without limit. They were meant to replace the depreciated assignats, whose rouble was worth about thirty kopecks in silver. The signature of the deputy manager of the bank was printed as a facsimile, while the director and the cashier signed each note by hand. In 1843 the deposit notes were exchanged one for one for the new State Credit Notes. The 50-rouble credit note of 1841 of the Savings Treasuries and the State Loan Bank was the first credit note, only partly backed by silver; few were made and 219 examples are known.

Appearance

Five-rouble deposit note of 1840, blue print. Squares stand in the corners of the frame (the figure 5 in the upper ones, the year "1840" in the lower ones) and a further square with the arms at the top centre. A hand-written promise to pay in silver coin and the arms of the 1830 pattern; the back carries an extract from the rules on deposits. Size 125 × 84 mm, issued from 20 December 1839. Specimens inscribed "ОБРАЗЕЦЪ" are known.

Other items of the period

• 3 rubles (1840) — Deposit note Pick# A25
• 5 rubles (1840) — Deposit note Pick# A26
• 10 rubles (1840) — Deposit note Pick# A27
• 25 rubles (1840) — Deposit note Pick# A28
• 50 rubles (1840) — Deposit note Pick# A29
• 50 rubles (1841) — Credit note Pick# A32
• 100 rubles (1841) — Deposit note Pick# A30