Imperial Russia 500 Rubles banknote 1898 Emperor Peter the Great
Obverse: Portrait of Czar Peter I, The Great. Russian Imperial Coat of Arms depicting a crowned double-headed eagle. (The Peter the Great Monument in the city of Taganrog (sculptor Mark Antokolski))
Watermark: Bust of Czar Peter I, The Great.
The 500 ruble issue of 1898 is one of the most spectacular banknotes of the imperial period due to both its sharp-looking design and sheer size. This note is massive, and among the largest banknotes ever issued by any nation, and is truly a piece of artwork. It was introduced in 1898, thus printed during the reign of Nicholas II (1896-1917) and right before, World War I. It measures 10.8" (275 mm) by 5" (127 mm).
Peter the Great, Peter I
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich (Russian: Пётр Алексе́евич, Пётр I, Pyotr I, or Пётр Вели́кий, Pyotr Velikiy) (9 June [O.S. 30 May] 1672 – 8 February [O.S. 28 January] 1725) ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from 7 May [O.S. 27 April] 1682 until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother. Through a number of successful wars he expanded the Tsardom into a much larger empire that became a major European power. He led a cultural revolution that replaced some of the traditionalist and medieval social and political system with one that was modern, scientific, westernized, and based on The Enlightenment.
Russian Banknotes - 500 Rubles