Bonus specialist Poryvaev predicted a real hunt for thousand-dollar bills “without a cross”

How much will this rarity cost to connoisseurs?

The saga surrounding the new banknotes just presented by the Central Bank continues. The grievances of Orthodox activists, who criticized the temple without a cross depicted on the “thousandth”, had an effect. An official message has appeared that the design of the “green” banknote will be finalized. As MK found out, all these returbations are of particular interest to collectors. For them, the current “unbaptized” banknotes are of great value.

Let us remind you: the reason for a large-scale scandal was the picture decorating the back of the banknote. It depicts, among other things, the Syuyumbike Tower on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, as well as the Museum of the History of Statehood of the Tatar People and the Republic of Tatarstan, located next to it, occupying the building of the former palace church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles (formerly Vvedenskaya). Many were outraged by the absence of a cross on the temple (it was removed in the “god-fighting” post-revolutionary years), next to which there is a tower crowned with a crescent. In this, critics saw discrimination against the Christian faith.

The Central Bank eventually responded to such claims. Two days later, a message appeared on the regulator’s website, from which it appears that a “red light was turned on” in front of the “green” bill:

“Currently, a decision has been made to stop issuing the banknote. It did not go into wide circulation.”

Such information probably pleased numerous Russians – champions of Christianity. And at the same time, it caused a great stir among bonists – collectors of banknotes.

We talked about this with Vladimir Poryvaev, a specialist in the field of numismatics and bonistics.

“Surely those banknotes with the image of a temple without a cross, which have already been printed to this day, will become a valuable collectible,” explained Vladimir. – After all, such banknotes immediately after the statement published by the Central Bank turned into a rarity. This means the real hunt will begin for them.

– But can bonists get these “exclusive” banknotes? The published statement said that they were not put into wide circulation.

– The key word here is “broad”. Yes, these “thousands” will not be delivered to banks in large quantities. But they may well spread out like a thin stream, “among our own people.” This is confirmed by the practice of past years. I myself, for example, had the opportunity to negotiate with people who, let’s say, “regulated the process of promoting new banknotes,” and through them received such samples even before their mass distribution. So, with a high degree of probability, the “disgraced” 1000-ruble bills will be available to collectors.

– How much could such a rarity cost?

– It depends on how big the leak is, how many copies went into circulation. I can’t even name an approximate price yet. But I admit that we can talk about amounts many times higher than the nominal value.

It should also be said that even those “thousand-ruble notes” modernized in accordance with the current decision of the Central Bank, which will be issued in the future, will very likely become an object of interest among bonists. This assumption is confirmed by the appearance of banknotes in denominations of 200 and 2000 rubles several years ago. They were put into circulation in small quantities, and therefore these banknotes immediately became of collectible interest. It was unlikely to receive such banknotes at a bank or for change in a store, so many happy owners of the new banknotes were not at a loss and began to sell them “for profit.” For example, for the “two thousandth” they asked for 2300-2500 rubles.

– Could any other modern Russian paper money be of interest to collectors?

– Among bonists, there is traditionally a hunt for “one-piece” specimens. For example, banknotes with beautiful numbers are highly valued – 2222222, 1234567, 9999999… or with the first number of the series 0000001. As well as banknotes of series that are rare to date – for example, aA. Even if such a banknote has already become frayed from being passed around, a collector can pay a tidy sum for it, significantly exceeding the face value. Well, in other, not so unique cases, the seller will be able to make decent money only by offering a completely new “crispy” bill.

In addition, banknotes with manufacturing defects are highly valued, also due to their rarity. For example, you may encounter a paper “money” with an upside down watermark on it.