Belarus introduced its own currency in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, initially as a transitional parallel currency alongside the Soviet rouble. The lowest denominations of this first series, printed before the country had established sophisticated domestic printing infrastructure, were produced with minimal security — a single watermark being the sole anti-counterfeiting measure on this note. That was adequate for a 1-rouble face value only because hyperinflation quickly rendered the denomination essentially worthless; by 1994, a loaf of bread cost thousands of roubles.
The series was eventually replaced entirely by 1999–2000 redenomination notes, wiping five zeros from all values.
Belarus introduced its own currency in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, initially as a transitional parallel currency alongside the Soviet rouble. The lowest denominations of this first series, printed before the country had established sophisticated domestic printing infrastructure, were produced with minimal security — a single watermark being the sole anti-counterfeiting measure on this note. That was adequate for a 1-rouble face value only because hyperinflation quickly rendered the denomination essentially worthless; by 1994, a loaf of bread cost thousands of roubles.
The series was eventually replaced entirely by 1999–2000 redenomination notes, wiping five zeros from all values.