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500 Rubli 1921, Latvia

in Krause book Number: 8c
Years of issue: 16.11.1921 - 01.04.1930
Edition: 5 000 000
Signatures: Finanšu ministrs: Ringold Kalnings, Valsts Kases pārvaldnieks (Walsts Kases pāhrwaldnieks): Kārlis Vanags
Serie: 1919 Issue
Specimen of: 1920
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 160 x 104
Printer: Government printing in Riga. British firm Portals Limited

* All pictures marked magnify are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.

** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.

500 Rubli 1921

Description

Watermark:

watermark

Interlocked wave bands.

Avers:

500 Rubli 1921

Denominations in figures and words are scattered throughout the entire field of the banknote.

Below, an inscription in Latvian. The same inscription (second part), in Russian and German, is shown on the reverse of the banknote!

In English: "All treasury bills are provided with all the property of the state bank". "Penalty for counterfating of Latvian money, or for the storage and distribution of counterfeit goods, is 12 years of forced labor".

Revers:

500 Rubli 1921

The banknote field is decorated with stylized acanthus leaves.

In the center are symbols-allegories of Latvia.

Vegetables, fruits and tobacco plant - fertility.

Pike is a fish resource.

Anchor - sea transport, navigation.

Wheat sheaf - agriculture.

Gear is an industry.

At the bottom, in circle is the emblem of Latvian republic.

Julijs Madernieks (1870-1955), one of the most significant creators of Latvian professional applied art and the most famous Latvian master of ornamentation at the beginning of the XX century, commissioned by the Ulmanis government in 1919, drawings of Latvian banknotes with the sun in the center with 17 wavy rays, symbolizing 17 counties of the former Russian Empire inhabited by Latvians, three six-pointed stars (as symbols of the unity of the three historical parts of Latvia - Kurzeme and Zemgale (Courland and Semigalia), Vidzeme (Livonia) and Latgale (Latgale), three western districts of the former Vitebsk province of the Russian Empire), the letter "L" and a ribbon in the colors of the Latvian flag.

This emblem, in 1919, became in fact the first coat of arms (emblem) of the Republic of Latvia, which was depicted on the breastplate of the Latvian riflemen who fought on the side of the Ulmanis government, on the stamp of stamp duty issued in 1919 and later formed the basis of the military emblem (cockade) of the Latvian army.

Comments:

watermark Rihards Zariņš

Designer: Rihards Zariņš.

Rihards Zariņš (also Richards Zarriņš or Richard Sarrinsch in German speaking countries; Kocēni, June 27, 1869 - Riga, April 21, 1939) was a prominent Latvian graphic artist.

He was born in Kocēni and grew up in Līgatne and later in Grīva. He pursued his studies in St. Petersburg, where he graduated in 1895 from the Stieglitz Central School for Technical Drawing. He then went on to further studies in Berlin, Munich, Vienna, where he studied lithography, and Paris, where he honed his skills in watercolour and pastels.

He returned to Russia where he was employed by the Russian Imperial Printing Office in St. Petersburg for 20 years, acting as technical director. From 1905 he was in charge of designing state papers. In 1919, he returned to newly independent Latvia where he was appointed director of the government printing house. He held that position for over 14 years and retired at the beginning of 1934. After a stroke, he lost his ability to speak; however, he continued to draw until the last day of his life.

Zariņš was one of the best-known Latvian graphic artists. His first works appeared in the early 1890s on the pages of the then-popular Latvian-language magazine, "Austrums" (The East), when he was still a student at the Stieglitz art school. He dedicated a great amount of time in the study of folk ornamentation, and under his leadership, the state publishers produced a monumental work on Latvian decorative arts.

During his career, the artist designed many stamps of the Russian Empire, Soviet Russia, Belarusian People’s Republic, and Latvia. He is an author of the very first Soviet stamps issued in 1918.

Zariņš was a prolific artist who produced many book illustrations, engravings and lithographs. His oeuvre also contains drawings, water-colour painting, and caricatures. Among his works of applied art are the design of the Latvian coat of arms as well as several designs for bank notes issued by the Printing Office, and several coins of the Latvian lats.