Collection › Russia › #43
100 RUB
The AI flagged these for your attention. Use ✦ Fact-check to cross-check factual fields against another model's world-knowledge, or 🔍 Re-look at image when you suspect the AI misread the pixels.
-
Some fields the AI was unsure about — please verify:
- Printer: “—” (0%)
- Dimensions (mm): “—” (0%)
- Watermark: “—” (0%)
- Reverse subject: “—” (0%)
- Pick #: “—” (0%)
Click ✦ Ask AI to verify or fix any below. -
Overall AI confidence is 90% (auto-approve threshold is 92%).Skim the Identity tab; the dots next to each field show what the AI was unsure about.
IMG_6135.jpeg
cropped
IMG_6136.jpeg
cropped
Where & when
What's on the note
Front: Sergei Mavrodi (1955–2018), Russian businessman and founder of the MMM financial pyramid scheme. This is a 100-bilet private scrip note issued by MMM in 1994 during one of Russia's most notorious Ponzi schemes, which defrauded millions of investors during the economic chaos following the Soviet collapse. The note bears Mavrodi's portrait and the MMM logo, with text in Cyrillic reading 'БИЛЕТОВ' (biletov, meaning tickets or notes). These notes were used within the MMM system as share certificates or internal currency during the height of the pyramid scheme.
Back: Decorative guilloche patterns in green and yellow-green tones with the text 'Сто билетов' (Sto biletov, meaning one hundred tickets/notes) in ornate script. The reverse features intricate security printing patterns typical of banknote design but lacks any significant imagery, focusing instead on anti-counterfeiting measures for this private scrip.
How it was made
Security features: microprint,guilloche
Russia in Europe
Russia in Europe. Other countries on the same continent shown in muted grey.
Background & history
🎉 Commemorating MMM pyramid scheme private scrip.
MMM private currency series, 1994. These 'biletov' notes were issued by Sergei Mavrodi's MMM company during Russia's largest financial pyramid scheme, which operated from 1989 to 1994 and again in various forms afterward. At its peak in 1994, MMM claimed up to 15 million investors. The scheme collapsed in July-August 1994 when the Russian government intervened, causing massive losses estimated at $1.5 billion. These notes were used as share certificates within the MMM system and became worthless after the collapse. They remain collectible as artifacts of post-Soviet economic turmoil and financial fraud history.
Collector references
How it came to me
Note appears in excellent condition with minimal handling, slight aging to paper visible
What it's worth now
Valuation history (1)
| date | low | high | currency | source | note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-08 16:13:54 | 5.0 | 25.0 | USD | ai | from claude-sonnet-4-5 |
History & extractions
AI extractions (3)
Edits & decisions (1)
Manual fixups
Find near-duplicates
Manual pairing override
Edit specimen #43
All fields below post to the same save endpoint. Sections collapse to focus on what you need.
Re-crop manually
Drag the four corners to mark the banknote in each image. Click Save crop to apply.