Antique 1916 Czarist Imperial Russia War Bond WWI Pre Russian Revolution 5.5% Short Term

$40.00

Brand Etsy

This is an Imperial Russia short term 5 1/2% war bond issued in 1916 to support Russias participation in WWI. This was issued just the year before that the Czarist government fell during the Bolshevik revolution. The bond bears the Romanov double eagle seal and the paper is watermarked overall with an elaborate design. The attached coupons are all present except for one (19 of 20 coupons present) and the certificate is in very good condition. Here is a rough translation of the text on the certificate:
5.5% Short-Term State War Bond issued in 1916 on the authorized capital of 2000000 rubles. Obligation is 1000 rubles to the bearer. The debts of this bond will be released in two issues, in 1000000 rubles each and to the bearer in denominations of 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, and 25000 rubles. The holder of this certificate is participating in a bond of 1000 rubles, bringing five and a half percent interest per year until the end of the obligation; the interest payments begin on February 1 1916. The payment of capital and interest in this obligation will be forever free from tax of capital income. The interest payments are paid out twice a year: 1 February and 1 August, upon presentation of the coupons at the State Bank and its offices and branches and treasurer's houses of those cities, where there are not facilities of the State Bank, and also in State Savings offices. On the 1st of February 1926 these obligations will be bought up at the nominal price. Each 5.5% Short-Term State War Bond of 1916 issue is supplied with 20 coupons. The coupons from these certificates can be redeemed up to 10 years from the date of their maturity. The obligation can be redeemed up to 30 years from the date of its maturity. These bonds are taken at prices established every half-year by the Finance Ministry and published through the Ruling Senate in the security of 1) state contracts 2) excise taxes 3) customs duties. The holders of 5.5% Short-Term State War Bond of 1916 issue have the right to exchange their obligations for State bonds of the same or longer maturities, that may be released within the Empire in 1916; moreover, in the payment of the new bonds, the current bond certificates will be taken at their price of issue
Of course, when the Bolsheviks took over government, they defaulted on all Czarist debt and withdrew from participation in the war, so these bonds became non-negotiable. The certificate measures 12 by 7 7/8 folded (coupons folded to the back).
This is an interesting historical piece of scripophily - great addition to a collection.