Cold War Era authentic Soviet Union three ruble note, depicting the Vodovzvodnaya Tower and the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.

The banknotes are from the 1961 series of Soviet rubles, the "Khrushchev Reform," and were in common circulation at the time of the Soviet collapse. The Khrushchev devaluation had been the most moderate adjustment (out of six,) of the Soviet ruble, and the longest lasting currency reform of the USSR. They were to be phased out by new notes of the 1991 Pavlov Reform (see my other items). 

The Vodovzvodnaya (English, 'The Water Pump Tower',) is one of the 20 towers of the Moscow Kremlin. Erected in 1488 by the architect Antonio Gilardi, this southwest corner tower protected the mouth of the Neglinnaya River. The tower acquired its current name in 1633, when Englishman Christopher Galloway installed pumps in it, by which the Kremlin could draw its water from the Moskva River through Russia's first pressurized pipe system. 

The top of the tower is crowned by a 5 pointed, ruby-red Soviet star, erected in 1937 by order of Josef Stalin in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the October Revolution. The height of the tower is 61.5 meters, including the star. 

The denominations of the polyglot notes are printed in Russian, and the official languages of the Soviet Union: Ukrainian, Belarusian, Uzbek, Kazakh, Georgian, Azeri, Lithuanian, Moldovan, Latvian, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Armenian, Turkmen, and Estonian.

The authentic hand selected banknotes are in Good circulated (used) condition. Conditions sound. Notes: paper solid; no big rips, seps, fold cracks, and no funky aroma. Will have slight edge wear, occasional staple hole, and other signs of use; may show creases and folds; minor surface dirt, notations, and/or small stains; Details clear. Examples are pictured above. Good for students, educators, collectors. Great at flea markets, swap meets, and rummage sales. Makes a nice gift pack for the old cold warrior, or history buff in your life! Serial numbers and dates will vary, but the Quality will not!