A very nice piece for the first-ever Polish silver ruble.
This issue was in circulation the longest and, naturally, is the most worn. This particular piece is especially so, as it belongs to the lowest series recorded by Miłczak—series 3.
When collecting Polish paper currency, banknotes from the Kingdom of Poland pose the greatest challenge.
Only in this category can one find items that still lack photographs in catalogs due to a “lack of illustrative material,” and in the case of the ruble issue, we are still not certain whether all years have been recorded. To collect banknotes from this period, one must also be prepared to accept banknotes in poor condition into the collection. Only a few examples have survived, sometimes in virtually fragmentary condition.
This one, from the first year of issue (1847), is very nice. The ruble was a denomination in common use, and those from 1847 were in circulation for nearly 20 years, naturally wearing out over time, and after that period were exchanged for bullion coins.
The coin bears the signatures of President Józef Tymowski and Bank Director Aleksander Korostowzeff.
