New 200 and 2,000 ruble banknotes enter circulation

On 12 October 2017, the Bank of Russia issued new notes worth 200 and 2,000 rubles. Their design was selected based on the results of a public vote. The banknotes incorporate advanced security features alongside raised print to help visually impaired people; their overall design is in line with current trends.

The primary colour of the new 200 ruble banknote is green. It depicts the symbols of Sevastopol: the Monument to the Sunken Ships on the front side and a view of Tauric Chersonese on the back. This banknote is printed on high-density polymer-treated cotton paper for better durability and longer circulation life cycle.

The 2,000 ruble banknote is designed mainly in blue tones. It is dedicated to Russky Bridge, featuring on its front side, and Vostochny Cosmodrome on the reverse. Its optically variable protector is a stylised depiction of the bridge against the sun.

The new banknotes feature several ruble signs (?) in the security thread and micro images. The denomination figures are larger than on other banknotes in the series, and their raised print is more palpable. The feature was introduced to help visually impaired people identify the banknote face value. Both banknotes bear the national emblem of the Russian Federation. The front side each comes with a QR code providing a link to a BoR website with design and protection details.

The symbols for the new banknotes were selected based on the outcome of a 2016 competition. Over 500 applications entered the competition initially, of which 75 applications from 49 regions proposing local sights qualified for the interim round. 10 finalists were selected from this list based on a nationwide sociological survey. At the final stage of the nationwide competition, which attracted over three million participants, the symbols of the Far East and Sevastopol emerged as winners. The competition results were announced on 7 October 2016 in a Russia-1 live television broadcast.