50 Krooni 1929, Estonia
in Krause book | Number: 65a |
Years of issue: | 27.06.1929 |
Edition: | 1 070 000 |
Signatures: | President: Jüri Jaakson, Direktorid: J. Kiwisild, F. Tannebaum, C.Kaarna |
Serie: | 1928 - 1935 Serie |
Specimen of: | 27.06.1929 |
Material: | 100% raw cotton |
Size (mm): | 158 x 100 |
Printer: | Riigi Trukikoda, Tallinn |
* All pictures marked 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.

Description
Watermark:
The inscription: "Eesti Pank" and the letter L (as first letter of Ligatne - paper factory, where paper for this banknote were made.
Avers:
Above, on the right side, is a waterfront in village Rannamõisa (village in Harku Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia).
On the background, far away at the skyline, the view at Tallinn (please read comments lower).
Lower, left, is an inscription: "See pangatäht on välja antud 3. mai 1927. a. rahaseaduse ja Panga põhikirja alusel." - "This banknote is issued at 3 May 1927 in association with the Money Act and the Bank's articles."
Below are stylized flowers.
Hard to say why, but on paper notes of the first Estonian republic was no space for the images of individual attractions of the capital. However, Tallinn silhouette adorns a bill of 50 Krooni 1929. Although, "decorates", perhaps, is loudly spoken. We must have very good eyesight to discern the familiar silhouette of the Old Town of Tallinn and the two paired spires of Kaarli kirik (St. Charles's Church) somewhere on the skyline.
Tallinn's grandest XIX-century church, the Kaarli or Charles XI Lutheran Church, sets itself apart with its twin steeples, immense size and neo-Roman style.
It was built from 1862 to 1882 as a long overdue replacement for the original Kaarli Church, itself founded in 1670 on the order of Sweden's King Charles XI. Like many wooden structures located outside the city wall, the first Kaarli Church burned down during the Great Northern War in the early 1700s.
Architect Otto Pius Hippius from St. Petersburg built the present limestone church using a special arch technique that gave it have a vast, open interior. With its wonderful acoustics and seating capacity of 1 500, the church is often used as a venue for concerts.
The Kaarli Church is home to the first Estonian fresco, “Come to Me,” painted in 1879 by famed Tallinn artist Johann Köler. It also boasts the country's largest church organ, installed in 1924.
Services on Sundays at 10 am.
Almost fabulous city mirage, somewhere, along the line of contact of sea and sky: such Tallinn saw Reindorf. And at the same time he left to contemporaries and descendants a riddle: from which point exactly he depicted the silhouette of the capital???
The answer to this puzzle designer did not left. For that, maybe we should tell him "Thank you". After all, even on such a prosaic, seemingly, things such as a banknote, the "portrait" Tallinn thereby acquired a touch of mystery.
Denominations are a little right from the center and lower left.
Revers:
The coat of arms of Estonia is top left.
The coat of arms of Estonia depicts a golden shield, which includes three slim blue passant gardant lions with red tongues in the middle and golden oak branches along both sides of the shield.
The three lions derive from the arms of Danish king Valdemar II who had conquered northern Estonia in 1219. The lions became part of the greater coat of arms of Tallinn, the centre of Danish government in Estonia, and the knightages (ger. ritterschaften) of Harria and Viru.
In 1346, Denmark sold its Estonian dominion to the Teutonic Order after its power had been severely weakened during the St. George's Night Uprising of 1343-1346. The three lions, however, remained the central element of the greater coat of arms of Tallinn. In later centuries, the motif of the three lions transferred to the coat of arms of the Duchy of Estonia, the Ritterschaft of Estland, and to the coat of arms of the Governorate of Estonia. The Riigikogu (the state assembly) of the independent Republic of Estonia officially adopted the coat of arms on June 19, 1925.
The coat of arms was officially banned following the occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in 1940, and replaced with the Soviet-inspired coat of arms of the Estonian SSR.
Denominations are centered and lower left, also, by small print, across all field of banknote.
Comments:
Withdrawn from circulation: 25.03.1941
Banknote paper is made in Ligatne, Latvia.
Paper Mill in Ligatne is the oldest venture to produce paper. The factory was founded in 1815, in the mill building. During the days of imperial Russia the paper was produced at the paper mill in Ligatne were famous, because of high quality. In 1896 the factory was honored to put the national emblem on their products.
Designer: Günther-Friedrich Reindorff (Гюнтер-Фридрих Германович Рейндорф, 26 January 1899 - 14 March 1974).
An Estonian graphic designer, book illustrator, and educator. He designed many postage stamps series, a large number of military insignia and bookplates, diplomas, various advertising sheets and currency in the late 1920s and early 1930s. His artistic style evolved under the influence of Art Nouveau and Art Deco works by Sergey Chekhonin, Ivan Bilibin, and other members of the Russian group Mir iskusstva.
Reindorff was born in Saint Petersburg and moved to Tallinn with his family in 1897. In 1905, he enrolled in the von Stieglitz Art School in Saint Petersburg. He graduated from the art school in 1913.
He designed many Estonian banknotes and coins, including the whole kroon series used beginning in 1928.
Soviet authorities appointed him a National Artist of the USSR (1969), and he was elected a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Fine Arts (1958), during the period when Estonia was part of the Soviet Union.
From 1922 to 1932 Mr. Reindorf was an artist and consultant of Estonian State Print, where Treasury notes were printed. In 1926 he won the first prize at the competition of banknotes of Estonia.
On his designs were issued banknotes of Estonia. They are very impressive by high level of skill, filigree style, great art and printing qualities and figure prominently in the Estonian chart. On 50 Krooni banknote reproduced a picture of the northern coast of Estonia, on the 10 and 20 Krooni are placed the collective images of Estonian peasants. 100 Krooni bears image of the Blacksmith (as working class) and 5 Krooni - the Fisherman.
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