The Karasuksky Regional Museum holds a ten ruble banknote, issued by the Provisional Siberian government in 1918, within its collection. These notes were called Siberian rubles, or ‘sibirki’, and were widely used in the Volga, Ural, Siberia, Zabaykalsky, Far East and Manchuria regions during the civil war.
The provisional Siberian government, the issuers of this banknote, governed from June to September 1918. It was a provisional state administrative body for the regions of Siberia and the Far East, where the Soviet authorities were overthrown following the revolt of the Czechoslovak Legion. Even before Alexander Kolchak had been declared Supreme Ruler of Russia in November 1918, the Provisional Siberian government issued treasury banknotes in one, five and ten ruble denominations. Three rubles notes were later added. When Kolchak’s government came to power, it would recognize the provisional Siberian government’s currency and print money of its own in the same style.
The banknote’s obverse depicts an set of arches with two coat of arms belonging to the provisional Government of Russia. The coat of arms was a double-headed eagle, designed by Russian artist Ivan Bilibin. He removed the Royal crown, orb, scepter and crest which had appeared on the Provisional government’s seal in 1917. ‘TREASURY BILL OF THE PROVISIONAL SIBERIAN GOVERNMENT’ is inscribed at the top of the note. The banknote’s denomination is written in large letters in the middle of the note. Beneath this, a three-line annotation is written in small letters, explaining that this banknote can be exchanged for national bank notes by the State Bank of Siberia. This meant that “sibirki” were of equal value to money issued by the State Bank. Siberia’s coat of arms is printed on the reverse, consisting of two sables standing on their hind legs, holding a crown.
A different version of the State’s coat of arms was printed on all bank notes issued during Alexander Kolchak’s time in power. The Saint George’s cross and the motto “In this sign thou shalt conquer” were placed about the eagle’s heads. A sword and orb were placed in the eagle’s talons - a representation of the sovereign emblem of the state’s territorial integrity. Moscow’s coat of arms was returned to the eagle’s chest, representing Saint George. After Kolchak’s overthrowing, all Siberian money was annulled and impounded by Bolsheviks between September 1919 and February 1920.
The provisional Siberian government, the issuers of this banknote, governed from June to September 1918. It was a provisional state administrative body for the regions of Siberia and the Far East, where the Soviet authorities were overthrown following the revolt of the Czechoslovak Legion. Even before Alexander Kolchak had been declared Supreme Ruler of Russia in November 1918, the Provisional Siberian government issued treasury banknotes in one, five and ten ruble denominations. Three rubles notes were later added. When Kolchak’s government came to power, it would recognize the provisional Siberian government’s currency and print money of its own in the same style.
The banknote’s obverse depicts an set of arches with two coat of arms belonging to the provisional Government of Russia. The coat of arms was a double-headed eagle, designed by Russian artist Ivan Bilibin. He removed the Royal crown, orb, scepter and crest which had appeared on the Provisional government’s seal in 1917. ‘TREASURY BILL OF THE PROVISIONAL SIBERIAN GOVERNMENT’ is inscribed at the top of the note. The banknote’s denomination is written in large letters in the middle of the note. Beneath this, a three-line annotation is written in small letters, explaining that this banknote can be exchanged for national bank notes by the State Bank of Siberia. This meant that “sibirki” were of equal value to money issued by the State Bank. Siberia’s coat of arms is printed on the reverse, consisting of two sables standing on their hind legs, holding a crown.
A different version of the State’s coat of arms was printed on all bank notes issued during Alexander Kolchak’s time in power. The Saint George’s cross and the motto “In this sign thou shalt conquer” were placed about the eagle’s heads. A sword and orb were placed in the eagle’s talons - a representation of the sovereign emblem of the state’s territorial integrity. Moscow’s coat of arms was returned to the eagle’s chest, representing Saint George. After Kolchak’s overthrowing, all Siberian money was annulled and impounded by Bolsheviks between September 1919 and February 1920.
