It is not clear, however, when, where, and to what extent these special notes actually circulated.

And 10,000-ruble notes are now circulating on the streets.

Between July and November 1993 old and new ruble notes circulated together.

The new notes will circulate along with other issues for a trial period of two years, though the initial batch released was largely snapped up by collectors.

"The new notes will circulate in addition to existing ones, there won't be any swap," Arnold Voilukov, the first deputy chairman at the bank, said.

He was also at earlier committee meetings, which had resolved to issue notes to circulate like bank notes.

In the meantime the bill of exchange holder could trade the note at a discount, and the notes circulated as money.

The commemorative notes are released into circulation on July 23, 2012 and the new notes will circulate alongside the regular issue banknotes.

The commercial banks lost their right to issue notes in 1914, although the notes circulated until 1924.

The notes circulated as legal tender, but it's more likely that most of them were saved for the three years and then redeemed.