Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Unveils New 100-Ruble Bill Before FIFA World Cup

Mikhail Japaridze / TASS

Russia’s Central Bank has unveiled new 100-ruble ($1.63) bills to commemorate the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The front side of the banknote depicts a boy admiring the legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin diving for the ball. A soccer ball with an embossed map of Russia adorns the back side of the blue-and-green technicolor bill.

A slew of soccer-themed security features double as easter eggs, including holographic images that change colors when brought under a UV light or seen under different angles; microimages of fans; and a microtext of the World Cup host cities.

The features are all listed in the QR code on the bottom right corner of the polymer banknote.

A total of 20 million commemorative bills will enter circulation before the start of the tournament next month, Russia’s Central Bank has said.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more