Rare banknotes of Russia: disappearing denominations, signs of value, photo

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Modern paper money, unlike ancient coins, is not made of valuable materials, but collectors appreciate some rare banknotes of modern Russia much more than their face value. Such "values" can be found in your wallet. To recognize rare banknotes, you need to know the signs by which they can be distinguished.

Signs of the value of banknotes

You can identify the face value of banknotes by examining their following characteristics:

• Certain modification.
• A rare denomination.
• Some banknote numbers (numbers with a certain sequence and composition of numbers).
• Alpha series in the issue are also rare.
• Probable marriage when printing banknotes.

Each of these parameters determines the value of paper money and, under certain conditions, the banknote can be included in the catalog of rare banknotes in Russia.

Paper money modification

Modification is some kind of transformation, improvement.

Banknotes, like all permanently issued things and other goods,converted periodically. Sometimes these changes are experimental, sometimes they are unsuccessful. When modifying banknotes, the quality of paper, printing, security and other features can be improved. In such cases, the next modification quickly appears. Banknotes issued in a small circulation immediately become a desirable object for collectors - bonists.

Modification on the banknote is displayed in numbers in the lower left part, indicating the year of implementation of the changes.

Collectors are happy to purchase paper banknotes with modifications before 2004.

History of modifications of banknotes of modern Russia:

1. In 1995, banknotes were issued in denominations from 1,000 rubles to 500,000 rubles. They have long been out of circulation and are of great value.
2. In 1998, banknotes of the modification of 1997 came into circulation, the denomination of which was reduced by 1000, and instead of the banknote of 500,000 rubles, a banknote with a face value of 500 rubles began to operate. Banknotes of this modification are almost impossible to find in circulation, so the price for them is also high.
3. In 2001 there was an increase in UV protection. Then, for the first time, an inscription appeared indicating the year of modification, as well as a banknote with a face value of 1000 rubles.
4. In 2004, the protection of the banknote was significantly enhanced (invisible at first glance inscriptions, fibers, steel thread and other effects appeared).
5. In 2006, a new 5000 ruble banknote was printed.
6. Many changes happened in 2010, the design, protection, paper structure and others have been improvedparameters.
7. In 2013, a hundred-ruble note dedicated to the Olympics was issued.
8. In 2014, banknotes with images of the sights of Sevastopol and Crimea appeared.
9. In 2017, 200 and 2000 rubles banknotes were issued.

Rare banknote numbers

The banknote number on the banknote consists of two letters (series) and seven digits. Banknote numbers perform one of the protective functions, and also serve to account for bank notes during their production and distribution. Each banknote has its own number. The value is banknotes with numbers in which:

• all numbers are the same;
• numbers go in a row (from 1 to 7) or vice versa.
• the so-called "mirror" numbers (or "radar" numbers (an example of such a number is 4567654)), have some value and "anti-radar" numbers (for example, 7654765);
• "beautiful" numbers - as well as car numbers or telephone numbers with an interesting sequence of numbers, numbers are especially appreciated: "0000001", "00000002" and the like;
• sometimes sample banknotes intended for test printing get into circulation, the numbers of these banknotes contain only zeros. Such bills are of great interest to collectors and have a fairly high price. This is due to the fact that their numbers are rare Russian banknote numbers. And numismatists are trying to replenish their collections with them.

Rare series of banknotes

There are rare letter series of banknote numbers:

• Series "AA". Such a series is assigned to cash tickets,which are printed first in a certain modification. Collectors really appreciate these bills.
• The banknotes of the 2001 and 2004 modifications, which had the 1997 series, are also among the rare series of banknotes in Russia, in addition, large and small letters alternated in the letter.
• Experimental series. When printing banknotes, it is not customary to use the letters F and Ts in the series, but in modern Russia a small number of ten-rouble notes with the FF and TsTS series have been issued. For banknotes with the "CC" series, a special ink was used, and banknotes with the "FF" series were printed on a new experimental paper. Of course, such banknotes are highly valued.

Fifty-ruble banknotes with the AB series and hundred-ruble banknotes with the AL series were issued for the same purposes. When issuing banknotes with the “UU” series, the coating with a new varnish was tested. All of them are also rare banknotes of Russia.

Special replacement series. Such series appear as a result of replacing banknotes rejected during the production of banknotes. For example, in the manufacture of banknotes dedicated to the Olympics, letters of different sizes “Aa” were used, and “ks” became a substitution series for banknotes depicting Crimean sights. Usually the letters of such substitutions are unknown, but experienced collectors guess which banknotes are of interest to them

Marriage occurring when issuing banknotes

No one is more happy with the release of defective items (banknotes, stamps and other items) than collectors.

It happens that defective banknotes get into circulation:

• Marriagewhen numbering. The number may shift relative to the series, be crooked or have other flaws.
• No number and series on the banknote at all.
• There may be several banknotes with the same number at once.
• The image on the banknote is not fully printed.
• On the same banknote there are two different numbers in the lower left and upper right corners, the numbers can differ either by one digit or by several. The greater the difference, the greater the price.
• An elongated bill, which is obtained by folding paper during printing.
• Distorted pattern due to a paper jam during printing.
• A banknote without the emblem of the city depicted on it.
• Banknotes with folds along the edges, if they are straightened, then protruding irregularities are obtained. Such banknotes are called "butterflies".
• Inverted watermarks.
• On the front side of the bill, the image of the reverse side is partially visible, such a marriage is commonly called "abklyach".

Defective banknotes are quite expensive, some copies are valued at tens of thousands of rubles.

Rare banknote denominations

Currently, the rarest denomination of the current banknote is a five-ruble banknote. A paper bill of such a small denomination quickly deteriorates, its release was stopped. Coins with the same denomination have been in circulation for a long time, so you can only meet this bill with collectors. The cost of such a banknote is 100 - 600 rubles.

Rare 100 ruble banknotes

Ucollectors value hundred-ruble banknotes with a modification of 2001 or 1997. These bills do not have, for example, a metallic strip.

The banknotes issued in 2016 became rare 100 denominations of Russia, the series of which began with the letter “U”, the lacquer coating was tested on them, the second letter in the series changed depending on the modification of the lacquer.

In 2001, 100-ruble banknotes of experimental series "AB" and "AL" were issued. Their price reaches 50,000 rubles, and some copies can cost up to 100,000 rubles.

This banknote is considered the rarest banknote in Russia.

Rare 500 ruble banknotes

Modern banknotes with a face value of 500 rubles have 4 modifications:

1. Modified in 1997. Such specimens have been preserved only by collectors or in a very old "stash", which has already been forgotten. The banknotes of this modification do not have a metal thread, colored fibers and an inscription symbolizing the year of modification. The cost of such banknotes reaches 6,000 rubles, as they are rare banknotes in Russia.
2. In 2001 and 2004, the security properties of these banknotes were improved. Such banknotes can be distinguished from the modification of 2010 by the boat with a sail depicted on them, sailing to the monastery. An earlier modification of 2001 is naturally valued more, the cost of banknotes reaches 4,000 rubles. Banknotes of the 2004 modification cost 800-1200 rubles.
3. In 2010, in addition to new security properties, the image on the banknote has changed: now therethere is no boat, and on the bank of the river there is a temple with domes. It is still difficult to sell such a banknote above the face value.

Rare 5000 ruble banknotes

Modern five thousandth banknotes first appeared in 2006, although the year of modification indicated on them is 1997. Due to the fact that such banknotes are in circulation recently, they are not yet of great value to collectors.

Rare 5000 denominations of modern Russia are banknotes with the "AA" series and various "interesting" numbers. The cost of such banknotes is slightly higher than the face value.

Rare 5000 banknotes of Russia are no longer valid banknotes of the 1995 model. Their cost from bonists is 800-2200 rubles.

State of banknotes

In the case when you become the owner of a rare banknote of Russia, you need to determine its value. In the formation of the price of a banknote, its condition is of great importance.

According to the international classification, the following degrees of safety of banknotes are distinguished:

• UNC or Press state. From the name it is clear that this banknote seems to have been taken out from under the press. This bill is in perfect condition, no creases, scuffs or other signs of use. Rare banknotes of Russia and other countries in this condition are most valued.
• aUNC - this is how a banknote with minimal wear is indicated, this state is also called “almost a press”. A well-preserved bill may have a fold that is easy to align.
• XF or EF, sodenotes "extremely fine" condition. Such a bill may have a kink or small folds.
• VF or "very fine" condition. These banknotes may have spots, folds, slightly worn corners, but the quality of the paper is good.
• Fine or "Fine" state. The corners of such a bill may be shabby, the color is not very bright, kinks and even small tears.
• VG - "Very good" condition. The color of such a banknote can be changed, there are breaks, at the intersection of which holes are allowed, corners rounded from wear. The bill itself may be greasy, but overall looks decent.
• Good - "Good" condition. A bank note in this condition was in circulation for a long time, as a result of which it became very worn out. As a result, there were: tears and rounding at the edges, spots. The appearance of such a bill is unattractive, but all parts are preserved.
• Fair, or "good" condition. This state is called very correctly “not bad”, in fact the bill looks very bad: dirt spots, scuffs, wrinkles, burnt paint. In places of bends and corners, such banknotes are badly battered to holes.
• Poor or "Bad" state. Such a banknote is very worn out, it can have large damages, inscriptions, tears, large holes. In addition, such a bill has a pale, faded color, part of a bank note can be torn off and glued with adhesive tape. The appearance of such a banknote is very decrepit, it feels more like a rag to the touch.

It goes without saying that the newest banknotes will cost the most, and theythe price will decrease as the condition deteriorates.

Interesting facts

• When printing banknotes on one sheet, not the numeric part of the number changes, but the alphabetic part. After all the letters are exhausted, change 1 digit in the number, and so on.
• Often experimental banknotes are sent to Kaliningrad. This is due to the geographical location of the region. It is easier to control the turnover of bank notes there.
• Banknotes with experimental series are deliberately withdrawn from circulation to study the quality of paper, varnish coating, paint and other characteristics.
• Banknotes in the "Press" condition are more valuable, so they often become objects for counterfeiting. Before buying such banknotes, especially those that are out of circulation, you need to verify their authenticity.