In her lecture, Dr. Ekaterina Pravilova will explain the evolution of the political principles of Russia’s monetary policy through the analysis of the ruble’s design, from Catherine II to 1917. The design of Russian paper rubles evolved from the austere simplicity of Catherine’s assignats to sophisticated decorative mini-posters featuring imperial symbols and the portraits of Russian rulers.

Attention to the design of money was not, of course, unique to Russia. But the Russian government operated in a particular semantic space loaded with references to Orthodox iconography and the divine status of imperial power. How did the transition to the silver standard in 1839 affect the design of Russia’s banknotes? What stood behind the changes in the ruble’s design in the 1860s and 1880s, when Russia turned from Westernization of the Great Reforms to the nationalistic policy? In what way was Russia’s gold standard different from the gold-based currency of the West, and how did the transition to the gold standard affect the banknotes’ design?

Join us to find out.