From the early 1960s, the USSR began developing active cooperation with socialist and developing countries. Thousands of Soviet specialists were sent abroad on assignments. The government faced the question of how to "protect" them from foreign currency.
A practical need arose to create a system in which citizens would not receive currency in hand and would spend the funds earned in foreign currency back at home.
The most important parts of the new system were the Bank for Foreign Trade of the USSR (Vneshtorgbank of the USSR) and the all-Union association Vnesposyltorg. In the former, citizens were required to keep foreign currency in the form of "invalyutny rubles," and through the network of Vnesposyltorg shops and firms to spend it.
It is important to note that, unlike other socialist countries, currency "substitutes" in the USSR were issued not for foreigners, but for the country’s own citizens.
A detachable Series A cheque—for sailors of Vnesheconombank (Vneshtorgbank) of the USSR—was a monetary obligation of Vnesheconombank (Vneshtorgbank) of the USSR to pay the amount specified on the cheque. The cheques were bound into cheque books of the corresponding denomination. Detachable cheques could be exchanged for goods in port cities of the USSR in "Albatross" system stores of the "Torgmortrans" organization. All cheques were printed by GOZNAK.