500 Roubles

This note dates from the last months before the USSR formally ceased to exist, yet it continued circulating in Russia and several successor states well into 1993. The printing run of just over twelve million is low by Soviet standards — the hyperinflationary spiral that followed the dissolution meant denominations this size became obsolete almost immediately, quickly overtaken by the 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 rouble notes that Goznak was already rushing through production.

Pick 249 is sometimes confused with the 1991-dated 500 rouble note; the two share a broadly similar design but were issued under distinct monetary circumstances.