We gratefully acknowledge numismatist Walt Jellum who provided images and background information for this section.

Inscription ARCTIC COAL / SPITSBERGEN MINE TRUST (MINE ADMINISTRATION) / Order / to take goods (merchandise) / for sum / TEN RUBLES / in stores (shops) of the Mine Trust / Arctic Coal on island Spitsbergen / No claims / about loss of orders (notes) / will be accepted / Trust Superior (L. K. Lighterman) / Arctic Coal / Chief Bookkeeper (signature) / No.

'The first Soviet resolution about the interest of the Soviet government in mining coal for the needs of the North was signed in Moscow on July 29, 1920 by Lenin, Bonen-Bruevich and Fotieva.

"For he first time the idea of organizing the Trust, dealing with the questions of coal mining in the Arctic, was raised by S,, Bergavinovm the chief of «Sojusljesprom», on July 30, 1931.  On September 25, 1931 administration of the Supreme Soviet People's Economy addressed their proposal on establishing Trust, Arctic Coal (Trust, Arktikugol) and all the regulations to the Soviet People's Commissars.  That proposal was accepted and on October 7, 1931 (Trust, Arktikugol) was organized and its statutes were ratified, too.  The Trust was located in Moscow."

This paragraph is from "Coal Mines on Spitsbergen" by N.A.Grilorybov, Moscow, 1988