Catalog
5 Roubles
| Issuer | Government Bank, Yerevan Branch |
|---|---|
| Year | 1919 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse lettering | ЭРИВАНСКОЕ ОТДЕЛЕНИЕ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННАГО БАНКА Спеціальный тек. счет Правительства Республ. Арменіи Сгр. И. 14 № 038. Руб. 5 Руб. Эривань, Августъ 1919 г. Предъявитель сего чека имѣетъ получить изъ Эриванскаго Отдѣленія Государственнаго Банка пять рублей. Министръ — Предсѣдатель Управляющій Министерствомъ Финансовъ Настъ, чекъ имѣетъ обязательное хожденіе наравнѣ съ кредитными билетами. |
| Reverse description | Pale blue-green guilloche underprint with a large lightly-printed numeral vignette at centre. The upper portion carries a Cyrillic acceptance text stating that the cheque has been accepted by the Erivan Branch of the State Bank and is payable from 15 November 1919. Below appear three manuscript signatures: the Director of the Erivan Branch of the State Bank, the Controller, and the Cashier. |
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Armenia's first banknote issue, this 5 Rouble note was produced by the short-lived First Republic of Armenia's Government Bank through its Yerevan branch at a moment when the new state was barely two years old and fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously — against Azerbaijani forces to the east, Turkish nationalist armies to the west, and chronic economic collapse from within. The note circulated in a region where Russian Imperial currency still passed freely alongside it, undermining any practical monetary authority the republic might have claimed.
The First Republic lasted only until December 1920, when Soviet forces entered Yerevan. Most of this issue was rendered worthless within months of printing.