Russia’s first banknote to mark Crimea's annexation

December 23, 2015 Russians are to see a new banknote commemorating Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The 100 rouble note ($1.50; £1) has appeared early December 2015 to mark the controversial Russian takeover of the peninsula in March 2014. 

Speaking to the official TASS news agency, Georgy Luntovsky, the deputy chairman of the Bank of Russia, said that the notes features "symbols of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol", just as soon as the final design has been discussed with senior officials in the region. One side of the note is devoted to Sevastopol, the other one – to Crimea. In the lower part of the Sevastopol side of the banknote in the green stripe there is a QR-code linking to the Bank of Russia webpage containing historical information relating to the commemorative banknote. While this is the first banknote to mark Crimea's annexation, Russians already have commemorative 10 rouble coins marking images of the annexation, carrying images of the Swallow's Nest castle in Yalta and Sevastopol's Monument to the Sunken Ships, Moscow Times says.