Russian cigarette case

[Dvaranin]

Hi
I have a cigarette case from my grandfather who brought it from russia. It is etched in the front something that translates as 'Tobacco box Internal 5% prize state bond for investment (principal) 100 ruble, yearly dividend 5 rubles." and on the back a sum of 200,000.
the photo is here http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10027563/russian.JPG
can someone tell me anything about it, a history,or where to get more info

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[agphile]

The experts in Russian silver may be able to add something more definitive to my comments, but the engraving simply seems to be a copy of a 5% Russian bond certificate, presumably from Tsarist Russia given the capitalist implication and the use of the old orthography. Your photo is upside down which makes it difficult to attempt a better translation, but a phrase in German ( .. hundert Rubel) is added across the bottom of the text. The phrase “tobacco box” does not seem to be included in the text. A close-up of the hallmarks might reveal more. I suppose it is much like the occasional specimen where, for example, the engraving copies a banknote. Prbably intended more as a joke than a boast about wealth I would hope, unless it celebrates some windfall.

[AG2012]

``Frakturschrift`` in German at the bottom is curious. Those familiar with paper money collecting will know better. Search for it - may be interesting.
Marks not clear, but beginning 20th century for sure.

[Dvaranin]

I gather from this, the case is likely decorated to look like a government bond, much like someone would put a facsimile of a $100 bill on a keychain. That would make sense as the serial number is missing to omit a critical piece.
the 'frakturschrift seems to translate to 'german script' . It is totally puzzling why the german script saying german script is placed on the top of the russian one, unless it was custom engraved and the engraver thought that would be attractive (?)
Yes it is early 1900's as my grandfather brought it from russia, and he left 1920.

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Can you post some clearer images of all of the marks struck onto this case?

Trev.

[agphile]

Frakturschrift describes the old type of lettering (out of fashion since WW2) used in the engraving. The actual words appear to be “Lm hundert Rubel”. I can’t make sense of the Lm but the next two words mean “hundred roubles”. I don’t know why there should be a superscription in German on a Russian text though there would have been many Germans In pre-revolutionary Russia.

Is there any more text on the back, or just the number 200,000?

As Dognose requests, a photo of the hallmarks would be helpful (should really have accompanied the original enquiry)

[AG2012]

It is ``Im Hundert Rubel`` meaning (Payable) ``In hundred Rubles``.Not uncommon at the time.Example here of the Imperial Russian bond (railway construction) in Rubles, British Pounds and Francs.The text is in English and Russian.So,the text in German is not a curiosity.
Bonds were Issued either by foreign investors or in association with the Russian Imperial Government.
This is silver forum,after all;give us sharper images of the marks and search for the bond elsewhere - again, it may be interesting;those bonds are valuable.

[Zolotnik]

Hi Dvaranin -

the object you have but we see no photo of, is no cigarette case but a portemonnaie - I think that the inlay is missing - therefore the misunderstanding. Here 2 from my collection:



Regards
Zolotnik