Some brief comments regarding the note. Yes it's 50 karbovantsiv note issued in Odessa in 1918.
Short after Russian revolution local governments faced huge difficulties with currency since Russian empire notes shouldn't be used any more also because the printing facilities were controlled by new Soviet government in Petrograd (former Saint -Petersburg) so Soviets could easily use them to print as much money as they needed (and they actually did:). Ukrainian People Republic (UNR -Ukrainska Narodna Respublika) witch partially controlled territory of current Ukraine was not an exception so they did their best to print their own money starting from 1918. These 50 karb. notes were stared to print in Kiev - UNR capital, using local printing works, like private typography and also map printing facilities owned by Ministry of Defense - these notes has AK series. Odessa, one of the biggest and richest cities of former Empire had it's own printing facilities specifically designed to print means of payment like bonds, checks etc. as well as certain amount of paper of proper quality with watermarks. These facilities were owned by local businessman J.Fesenko and have become an extremely valuable property. First notes were printed in Odessa under supervision of UNR government officers and were numbered from AO 189 to AO 209. Yes, there were multiple notes with same number and series. In 1918 Odessa was captured by Russian monarchists - general Denikin Army officially called The South of Russia Military Forces. General Denikin administration continued printing notes with same value and design but Denikin's notes were numbered from AO 210 to AO 219. Pretty soon, at the same year 1918 Soviet forces occupied Odessa and...yes, they needed money too! Soviet notes were literally the same but numbered from AO 220 to AO 229. Denikin's army was back soon to recapture Odessa and continued printing (numbers AO 230-AO 235) but not for long. Soviets got reinforcements and successfully advanced again regaining control under Odessa and Mr. Fesenko printing works. Last Soviet issue was numbered from AO 236 to AO 250. Than communists we again kicked out from Odessa by monarchists supported by French and British fleet but printing equipment as well as paper stock disappeared probably taken by Soviets and destroyed or lost while backing off.
Government of Ukraine People Republic was also pretty surprised that their notes has become so popular and declared that all notes with numbers AO 209 and higher should be considered a counterfeit and are not a legal tender in Ukraine. But frankly speaking no one cared too much about their opinion so notes successfully circulated all over Ukraine till late 1920 when these notes were officially canceled by Ukraine Soviet Socialist Republic administration and replaced with Soviet inflation papers.
So that's a story behind that note designed by recognized Ukrainian artist and graphic Heorhiy Narbut. Hope it was useful and this note will be a valuable part of your collection.
Edited: Minor misprints fixed.
Edited by Ezhik_Lt
08/21/2020 10:51 am
Posted 08/15/2020 3:07 pm
to the forum
