1 Ruble / 25 Rubles Soviet Ruble #452

Front

The note shows the denomination '1 Ruble' (ОДИН РУБЛЬ) in Russian, with '1' repeated in ornamental rosettes. The text reads 'USSR' (СССР) at top and 'ПОДДЕЛКА БИЛЕТОВ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО БАНКА СССР ПРЕСЛЕДУЕТСЯ ПО ЗАКОНУ' (Counterfeiting of State Bank of the USSR notes is prosecuted by law) at bottom. This is the front of a 1 ruble note from the 1961 Soviet currency reform, which redenominated the ruble at 10:1, replacing the Stalin-era currency with a new series that remained in circulation until the Soviet Union's dissolution.

Back

Vladimir Lenin (1870–1924), founder of the Soviet Union, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, and first head of the Soviet state. His portrait appears at left in profile, facing right. The State Emblem of the USSR (hammer and sickle surrounded by wheat sheaves, topped with a star) is displayed at center top, with text reading 'БИЛЕТ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО БАНКА СССР' (State Bank of the USSR Note) and 'ДВАДЦАТЬ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ' (Twenty-Five Rubles). The year '1961' appears at lower right. The denomination '25' is shown in a central ornamental panel. The text below states that banknotes are secured by gold, precious metals, and other assets of the State Bank.

History

This is a mismatched pair: the front shows a 1 ruble note (ОДИН РУБЛЬ) while the back shows a 25 ruble note (ДВАДЦАТЬ ПЯТЬ РУБЛЕЙ), both from the State Bank of the USSR Series of 1961. The 1961 currency reform was implemented under Khrushchev to combat inflation and replace the large-denomination Stalin-era notes. The reform exchanged old rubles for new at a 10:1 ratio, with old banknotes dated 1947, 1957, and 1958 being replaced. The 1961 series featured Lenin's portrait on all denominations and remained the standard Soviet currency until the USSR's dissolution in 1991. These notes were printed by Goznak (the Soviet state security printing works). Pick-237a refers to the 1961 series 25 ruble note with the specific security features and design elements of this issue.