The apsar (Abkhaz: аԥсар, āpsār) is a currency of Abkhazia. So far, only coins in denominations of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100 apsars and banknotes in denominations of 25 and 500 apsars have been issued. While the coins are legal tender in the Republic of Abkhazia, their usage is very limited, and the coins 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:
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
2008 commemorative coins of the 15th anniversary of the Abkhazian victory in the 1992–93 war
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]
Banknotes of the Abkhazian apsar
Image
Value
Dimensions
Main Color
Description
Date of issue
Obverse
Reverse
Obverse
Reverse
500 apsars
165×65
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
2018
25 apsars
165×65
Green, orange, red, blue, and yellow
Coat of arms of Abkhazia, hawk in flight, head of a hawk
Two soldiers standing, each holding a sword and rifle, numeral "25"
2023
References
^Blauvelt, Timothy K.; Smith, Jeremy (19 November 2015). Georgia after Stalin: Nationalism and Soviet power. Routledge. ISBN9781317369790 – via Google Books.
^Wright, John; Schofield, Richard; Goldenberg, Suzanne (16 December 2003). Transcaucasian Boundaries. Routledge. ISBN9781135368500 – via Google Books.
^(in Russian)Regnum.ru: "Apsar" — part of the country's image
^
Abkhazia 500 apsars Banknote Museum (www.banknote.ws). Retrieved on 2018-10-28.
^Abkhazia new 25-apsar note (B102a) reportedly introduced on 22.05.2023 BanknoteNews (https://banknotenews.com). May 22, 2023. Retrieved on 2023-05-23.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Money of Abkhazia.