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Abkhazian apsar

Currency of Abkhazia

Abkhazian apsar

Аԥсар (Abkhaz)
10 apsars (obverse) 50 apsars (reverse)
ISO 4217
Code	none
Unit
Plural	apsark (аԥсарк)
Denominations
Banknotes	10, 25, 100, 500 apsark
Coins	1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 apsark
Demographics
User(s)	Abkhazia (alongside Russian ruble)
Issuance
Central bank	National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia
Website	www.nb-ra.org
Printer	Goznak
Mint	Moscow Mint
Website	www.mmint.ru
Valuation
Pegged with	аҧ 1 = ₽10

The apsar (Abkhaz: аԥсар, āpsār) is a currency of Abkhazia. So far, coins in denominations of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100 apsars and banknotes in denominations of 10, 25, 100, and 500 apsars have been issued. While the coins and banknotes are legal tender in the Republic of Abkhazia, their usage is very limited, and they are mostly made for collectors. In Abkhazia, the Russian ruble is used in practice. The first apsar coins were introduced in 2008.

The name derives from the Apsars, a tribe mentioned in The Georgian Chronicles who inhabited the region in the Middle Ages and who are believed to be the ancestors of the Abkhaz people.^[1][2]

The Bank of Abkhazia is responsible for the apsar coins, and has so far issued two series: "Outstanding personalities of Abkhazia" (6 coins) and『The patriotic war of the Abkhaz nation 1992–1993』(2 coins). People who have appeared on coins include:

• Vladislav Ardzinba, 1st president of Abkhazia (1994–2005)
• Fazil Iskander, writer
• Dmitry Gulia, writer
• Samson Chanba, writer and statesman
• Bagrat Shinkuba, writer and politician
• Aleksandr Chachba, artist

10 and 100 apsar coins are made of silver; 25 and 50 apsar coins are made of gold. The number of coins produced is low: 2,000 silver coins are minted and 1,000 gold coins.^[3]

Issues[edit]

2008 commemorative coins of the 15th anniversary of the Abkhazian victory in the 1992–93 war[edit]

2009[edit]

Commemorative coins of Abkhazian writers[edit]

Commemorative Nart coin[edit]

2010[edit]

Commemorative Coins of 2010 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia[edit]

2011[edit]

Commemorative Coin of 2011 World Domino Championship[edit]

Commemorative Coins of 2011 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia[edit]

2012[edit]

Commemorative Coins of 2012 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia[edit]

Banknotes of the Abkhazian apsar[edit]

On September 29, 2018, the National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia issued its first banknote for 500 apsars, in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia and its first president, Vladislav Arynba. 10,000 notes were printed, but were not released for general circulation.^[4]

In 2023, the National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia issued a 25 apsars banknote, in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia. 15,000 notes were printed, but were not issued for general circulation.^[5]

In April 2024 the bank released images of new commemorative banknotes of 10 and 100 apsar. These notes were introduced on 10 June 2024.

Banknotes of the Abkhazian apsar
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color	Description		Date of issue
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse
		500 apsars	150×65 mm[6]	Gold and light brown	Coat of arms of Abkhazia, soldiers of the Abkhazian Armed Forces rising the banner of victory, first President of Abkhazia Vladislav Arynba	Coat of arms and map of Abkhazia, QR code[6]	29 Sep 2018[6]
		100 apsars [1]	150 x 65 mm[7]	Purple, brown, and green	Caucasian red deer, Caucasus mountains, blackbird on pine branch,.[7]	Dolmens and cromlech from early Bronze Age, amphora, QR code.[7]	10 June 2024[7]
		25 apsars	150×65 mm[8]	Green, orange, red, blue, and yellow	Coat of arms of Abkhazia, eagle in flight, head of an eagle, sailboat[8]	Two soldiers standing, each holding a sword and rifle, numeral "25", QR code	22 May 2023[8]
		10 apsars [2]	150 x 65 mm[9]	Orange, red, green, purple	Caucasian leopard, bronze axe, coat of arms[9]	Bronze axe, traditional military staff "alabasha", QR code.[9]	10 June 2024[9]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Money of Abkhazia.

• Coins of Abkhazia at CISCoins.net
• Coins minted by the Bank of Abkhazia
• Catalog of the coins of Abkhazia (Numista)
• Banknote News page for Abkhazia
• Catalog of the banknotes of Abkhazia (Numista)
• Catalog of the banknotes of Abkhazia
• National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia

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