100 Karbovantsiv

Ukraine's first post-Soviet banknote series, issued in 1991 as the karbovanets replaced the Soviet ruble during the transition to monetary independence. The karbovanets was always intended as a temporary currency — a coupon system introduced to prevent ruble drain — and was replaced by the hryvnia in 1996. This note never escaped that provisional identity.

Printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company in Ottawa, one of several foreign security printers contracted during the chaotic early years when Ukraine had no domestic facility capable of producing its own currency.