250 Rubles, Russia, 1917

250 Ruble Russian banknote issued by the Provisional Government of the Russian Republic in 1917. This was the government which had replaced the Czar in February 1917. The obverse of the note carries text - 'State Credit Note', along with its denomination in bold letters. The reverse is dominated by an Imperial double headed Russian eagle - without crown - symbolizing the Russian Empire. During the Czarist era (pre-1917), the Eagle had three crowns, symbolizing the crowns of Russia, Ukraine, and Belorus. The reverse also has ornated guilloche (repetitive geometric patterns) patterns as a security feature, and a swastika underprint in the center. 

Russia entered the Great War (later called World War I) in August 1914 as a guarantor of Serbia's security. By 1917, Russia was facing massive losses on the war front, and an economic collapse and food shortages on the home front leading to public unrest. In February 1917, there were protests in St Petersburg, and in March 1917, the Tsar abdicated ending 300 years of the Romanov dynasty. A provisional government, which promised elections and civil rights was formed in 1917. However, it could not deal with the shortages or get Russia out of the war. Eventually, in October 1917, the Bolsheviks (Lenin's party) overthrew the provisional government in a nearly bloodless coup, and declared a communist republic. This note was issued by the provisional government of February to November 1917, and represents a turbulent period of transition in Russia's history. 

Size: 175 mm* 104 mm
This is a large note. Read more about this note here