50 rubles — Russian Empire (1841) — Credit 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

Fifty-rouble credit note of 1841 of the Savings Treasuries and the State Loan Bank. On a light ground two oval ornaments stand at the sides, joined by broad strips carrying the denomination vertically ("ПЯТЬДЕСЯТЪ" at the left, "РУБ: СЕРЕБ:" at the right); at the top a complex pattern of five ovals with the figure 50. A hand-written promise to pay fifty silver roubles on presentation, three signatures. The back carries the state arms and an extract from the manifesto on credit notes. Size 200 × 114 mm; issued in two print colour variants, and "ОБРАЗЕЦЪ" specimens are known, one without signatures and one with each side on a separate sheet.

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