Money today is an integral part of human life. We are used to using coins or banknotes everywhere: in the store, on a trip, at the bank. We are used to the rustle of paper and the sound of metal. It's even hard to imagine life without them. But throughout history there have been various events that have changed the history of money. How did money come about? When did paper money appear in Russia? How was their development?
From the history of money
The history of the emergence of money goes far into the depths of the existence of mankind. Before their appearance, people used various materials and products, even food and animals. But it was not very convenient and did not always have the correct equivalent ratio. And then there was a need to create money.
Coins appeared in the 7th century BC and actively spread due to their small weight and size. After a while, they begin to use gold and silver in the manufacture of coins. And inAt the beginning of the 10th century, the first paper money appeared in China. In Russia, the first own coins appeared at the end of the 10th century, when they began to mint gold and silver coins. But when did the first paper money appear in Russia? Let's trace the history of their occurrence.
The times of Catherine the Great
The first person who wanted to start producing paper money was Peter III. But his plan did not materialize, because Peter was overthrown by his wife. The need for the production of paper money arose due to an acute shortage of silver. And trade was actively developing in Russia. In addition, huge funds were needed for armaments and the army. Copper did not solve the problem because it was very heavy. Tax officials had to carry taxes in wagons, because a thousand copper rubles weighed about one ton. The only way out was to start producing banknotes. Therefore, paper money first appeared in Russia under Catherine II. This happened in 1769.
Banknotes began to be issued in denominations of 25, 50, 75, 100 rubles, which each holder could freely exchange for copper coins. At the same time, two banks for exchange were opened - in Moscow and in St. Petersburg. But the 75-ruble banknote had to be abandoned, because the craftsmen could freely convert 25-ruble notes to 75-and. Since 1786, 5 and 10 rubles appeared in the production of paper money. Then they were blue and red respectively. However, as in the Soviet Union. Now it is clear why paper money appeared in Russia. To facilitate the work, because there was not enough silver, and copper weighed too much. But what happened next?
Pavlovian times
Paul I and his mother Catherine had a very difficult relationship. Paul hated his mother and everything she accepted and did during her reign. Naturally, the production of paper money for him was also hated. At this time, there is a fall in the rate of money from paper - for one paper ruble they gave about 75 kopecks of silver, which the country lacked so much. Then Emperor Paul comes to a simple decision - to collect all the paper money in the country and burn it at the stake. As Prince Kurakin noted then, on Palace Square it was necessary to publicly burn 6 million rubles, which had not yet been released, and the rest - as they entered. And that's another 12 million. As you can see, the amounts are huge! Thus, the period of Catherine is the time when paper money appeared in Russia, and the period of Paul is the time when they were burned.
Further events in Paul's time
What did Emperor Paul see as a way out of the predicament? He decided on the next action, which can hardly be called right and sound. Paul ordered that all the family's silverware be taken and melted down to make silver coins. As the emperor put it, he was ready to eat from pewter, if only to achieve prosperity for the country. But it didn't work out! Beautiful silver sets, which cost about 800 thousand rubles, were melted down and made from silver money, which turned out to be only up to 50 thousand. Therefore, the problem has not been resolved. Soon, however, the state wasforced to return to making paper money.
"Napoleonic" money in Russia
Along with the issue of paper banknotes, a lot of counterfeiters appeared, because even government paper was then easier to fake than minted coins. Counterfeiters were not afraid of any punishment. But they were always severely punished with the help of various types of executions. While Napoleon was about to attack Russia, he made a scam. In 1812, counterfeit Russian banknotes were printed on his orders. But, as it turned out, their quality was much higher than the original Russians. Then Emperor Alexander I realized that it was time to change something in the monetary system. High-quality paper money in Russia appeared when the emperor established the foundation of the Expedition for the production of state papers. This happened in 1818.
The subsequent development of paper money in the country
Under Emperor Alexander, a factory for the production of banknotes, watermarked paper and various documents appeared on the Fontanka embankment near St. Petersburg, which still operates today. Over time, a whole small city was built on this place, the inhabitants of which worked at this factory. This was the next period when paper money appeared in Russia, after which they no longer disappeared until the present day.
During the reign of Nicholas I, Catherine's banknotes, silver rubles, as well as deposit and credit notes, which in 1841 after the decree became money, circulated in Russia. After two years, all varietiesmoney were replaced by a single form - a credit note. Over time, silver was replaced by gold. At the same time, confidence in the Russian monetary unit appeared. Still, silver and paper money were in free circulation, and gold was in the treasury, providing value to the Russian national currency.
Further, during the formation of Soviet power, their own paper money was issued, and in the 1990s there was a change in the manufacture of banknotes again.
Thus, today you can trace the history of the emergence of paper money in Russia: when did they appear, what changes did they have to undergo in the course of history. Of course, paper money in Russia played an important role, influencing history and benefiting both the state and society as a whole.
