10 Roubles, State Bank of the USSR, Soviet Union, 1961 (Pick 233)

This 10 Roubles note was issued in Soviet Union by the State Bank of the USSR, dated 1961. It belongs to the Sixth Rouble (1961-1991) currency system. Issuing authority and period recorded in the catalogue: Soviet Union (1922-1991). It measures 119 × 60 mm and is printed on paper (without gloss, yellow-gray, stiffer; or with gloss, white). The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money lists the type as Pick 233.

Obverse: Red print; red and yellow underprint. State Emblem of the USSR at top left, denomination in rosette guilloché at bottom left. Ornamental frame along top and bottom of note. Value over denomination at center, legal text below. Profile of Vladimir Lenin in oval frame at right center. Denomination over rosette guilloché at bottom right, date below. Its lettering reads “Билет / Государственного / Банка СССР / ДЕСЯТЬ / РУБЛЕЙ / 10 / БАНКОВСКИЕ БИЛЕТЫ ОБЕСПЕЧИВАЮТСЯ ЗОЛОТОМ, ДРАГОЦЕННЫМИ / МЕТАЛЛАМИ И ПРОЧИМИ АКТИВАМИ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО БАНКА / 1961”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Banknote of the State Bank of the USSR Ten Rubles 10 Banknotes are backed by gold, precious metals, and other assets of the State Bank. 1961”.

Reverse: Dark red-brown, red, and yellow-orange print; multicolor underprint; red serial number. Denomination in rosette at upper left center, in rosette guilloché at top right, and at bottom left. Value at center superimposed on denomination over rosette guilloché. Legal text in oval cartouche at bottom left center, value in 14 languages of Soviet Republics at bottom right. Scripts: Armenian, Cyrillic, Georgian (Mkhedruli) and Latin. Its lettering reads “СССР / 10 / ДЕСЯТЬ / РУБЛЕЙ / ПОДДЕЛКА БИЛЕТОВ / ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО / БАНКА СССР / ПРЕСЛЕДУЕТСЯ / ПО ЗАКОНУ / ДЕСЯТЬ КАРБОВАНЦІВ • ДЗЕСЯЦЬ РУБЛЁЎ / ЎН СЎМ • ОН СОМ • ათი მანეთი / ОН МАНАТ • DEŠIMT RUBLIŲ • ЗЕЧЕ РУБЛЕ / DESMIT RUBĻU • ОН СОМ • ДАҲ СӮМ • ՏԱՍ / ՌՈՒԲԼԻ • ОН МАНАТ • KÜMME RUBLA”. Translation given in the catalogue: “USSR 10 Ten Rubles Forgery of banknotes of the State Bank of the USSR is prosecuted by law.”.

The note was printed by Goznak (Гознак, Экспедиция заготовления государственных бумаг), Russian Federation (1818-date). Design is credited to Sergei Akimovich Pomansky (Сергей Акимович Поманский), Iván Ivánovich Dubásov. Engraving is credited to Lidiya Fyodorovna Mayorova (Лидия Фёдоровна Майорова). Watermark: Stars across the note diagonally from bottom to top. Technique: Offset, Orlov printing (see comments). Issue date recorded in the catalogue: 1 January 1961. Demonetized: 1 September 1993.

Identification note: match the value, issuing bank, printed date and Pick number together; dates and signature combinations distinguish sub-varieties, which are not separated in this entry. Details follow the Numista catalogue entry and the Standard Catalog reference it cites; they have not been checked against a central-bank archive.