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Denomination: 1 Ruble
First Year of Issue: 1898
Governing Body: Czar Nicholas II
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As mentioned earlier, the year “1898” printed on the banknote does not represent the date when the banknote was printed, but instead represents the date that the 1 Ruble note with this particular design was introduced into circulation for the first time. With all the 1 Ruble notes from 1898 to 1917 printed with the same date, there are two key features that can be used to distinguish one year from another.
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First, the serial number is crucial. Imperial Russia was not the only one that printed the 1 Ruble notes using this particular design. The Provisional Government, which took over after the fall of Czar Nicholas II, used the same exact design. However, instead of using the two-letter and six-digit format for the serials of the notes, the Provisional Government cut it down to a two-letter prefix followed by two or three digits only, as seen on this site’s section about the 1915 1 Ruble note. Once the Soviets toppled the Provisional Government, they also used the same design for the 1 Ruble banknote for a couple of years until they were able to print their own designs. The Soviets employed the same approach as the Provisional Government, issuing Ruble notes with only the two-letter prefix followed by two or three digits.
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Second, the signatures in the center of the banknote are crucial. As mentioned in the introductory section, the top signature on the notes, which designates the “Director,” is important in figuring out the range of years when the banknote was printed. For example, the pictured Ruble above has the Shipov signature. Coupled with the fact that the note has the long serial, a collector can conclude that this note was printed between 1912 and 1917 (Shipov signature), and was produced when the mint was still under Imperial control (long serial).
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