Sovznaks ( rus, совзнаки, p=sɐˈvznakʲɪ) were
promissory notes issued in
Soviet Russia
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Russian SFSR or RSFSR ( rus, Российская Советская Федеративная Социалистическая Республика, Rossíyskaya Sovétskaya Federatívnaya Soci ...
in 1919
and used during 1919–1924. The name is an abbreviation of the expression "Sovetskiye znaki" (Советские знаки, Soviet tokens), which in its turn was an abbreviation of the official terms (советские казначейские знаки, расчётные знаки РСФСР, денежные знаки РСФСР (СССР) ) used during different periods. They were the ''de facto''
money
Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money are as ...
of the time. The term "token" was an
euphemism
A euphemism () is an innocuous word or expression used in place of one that is deemed offensive or suggests something unpleasant. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse, while others use bland, inoffensive terms for concepts that the user wishes ...
for "money", since
communism was supposed to abolish money, and sovznaks were considered to be a temporary, transitional instrument.
See also
*
Chervonets#Soviet Union
References
External links
Economy of Russia
Economy of the Soviet Union
Modern obsolete currencies
Currencies of Russia
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