Abkhazian apsar

Abkhazian apsar
Аԥсар (Abkhaz)
10 apsars (obverse)	50 apsars (reverse)
ISO 4217
Code	none
Unit
Plural	apsark (аԥсарк)
Denominations
Banknotes	25, 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	Russian ruble = 0.1 apsar

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:

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]

Vladislav Ardzinba and the Abkhazian state
Designer: B. R. Japua, V. M. Erokhin		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy: Ag 925	Quantity: 2,000	Quality: Proof-like
Issued: 26 September 2008	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3,30 ± 0,35 mm	Weight: 33,94 ± 0,31 g
Vladislav Ardzinba and the Abkhazian state
Designers: B. R. Japua, V. M. Erokhin		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 50 apsars	Alloy: Au 999	Quantity: 1,000	Quality: Proof-like
Issued: 26 September 2008	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 1,7 ± 0,2 mm	Weight: 15,72 ± 0,15 g
Victory
Designer: B. R. Japua, V. M. Erokhin		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy: Ag 925, Au 999	Quantity: 2,000	Quality: Proof-like, Antiproof
Issued: 26 September 2008	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3,30 ± 0,35 mm	Weight: 33,94 ± 0,31 g
Victory
Designers: B. R. Japua, V. M. Erokhin		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 50 apsars	Alloy: Au 999	Quantity: 1,000	Quality: Proof-like, Antiproof
Issued: 26 September 2008	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 1,7 ± 0,2 mm	Weight: 15,72 ± 0,15 g

2009[edit]

Commemorative coins of Abkhazian writers[edit]

(80th birthday of) Fazil Iskander
Designer: B. R. Japua		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy: Ag 925	Quantity: 2,000	Quality: Proof-like
Issued: 6 May 2009	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3,30 ± 0,35 mm	Weight: 33,94 ± 0,31 g
Dmitry Gulia
Designers: T. D. Kaitan, V. M. Erokhin		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy: Ag 925	Quantity: 1,000	Quality: Proof-like
Issued: 29 June 2009	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3,30 ± 0,35 mm	Weight: 33,94 ± 0,31 g
Samson Chanba
Designers: B. R. Japua, V. M. Erokhin		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy: Ag 925	Quantity: 1,000	Quality: Proof-like
Issued: 29 June 2009	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3,30 ± 0,35 mm	Weight: 33,94 ± 0,31 g
Bagrat Shinkuba
Designers: R. T. Gablia, V. M. Erokhin		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy: Ag 925	Quantity: 1,000	Quality: Proof-like
Issued: 29 June 2009	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3,30 ± 0,35 mm	Weight: 33,94 ± 0,31 g
Aleksandr Chachba
Designers: B. R. Japua		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy: Ag 925	Quantity: 1,000	Quality: Proof-like
Issued: 16 November 2009	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3,30 ± 0,35 mm	Weight: 33,94 ± 0,31 g

Commemorative Nart coin[edit]

The Narts
Designers: R. T. Gablia, V. M. Erokhin		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 25 apsars	Alloy: Au 999	Quantity: 1,000	Quality: Uncirculated
Issued: 16 November 2009	Diameter: 22.6 mm	Thickness:	Weight:

2010[edit]

Commemorative Coins of 2010 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia[edit]

Bediysky Cathedral of St Mary
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 6 December 2010	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 2.0 mm	Weight: 33.94
Church of St. Simon the Canaanite
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 6 December 2010	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
Pitsundsky Cathedral of St. Andrew
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 6 December 2010	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
Mykusky Assumption Cathedral
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 6 December 2010	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
Lyhnensky Assumption Church
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 6 December 2010	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
Elyrsky Church of St. George
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 6 December 2010	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
Drandsky Assumption Cathedral
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 6 December 2010	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94

2011[edit]

Commemorative Coin of 2011 World Domino Championship[edit]

World Domino Championships
Designers: Japua B.R.		Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy: Au 925	Quantity: Uncirculated	Quality: Uncirculated
Issued: 12 September 2011	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness:	Weight:

Commemorative Coins of 2011 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia[edit]

Church of St. Simon the Canaanite
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 15 February 2012	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94

2012[edit]

Commemorative Coins of 2012 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia[edit]

The Dormition Cathedral of Myku
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 15 February 2012	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
Patriarchal cathedral in Pitsunda
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 15 February 2012	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
The Bedia Сathedral of the Mother of God
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 15 February 2012	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
The Church of St. George in Ilori
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 15 February 2012	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
The Dormition Cathedral of Dranda
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 15 February 2012	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94
The Dormition Cathedral of Lykhny
Designers: Japua B.R		Mint: Moscow Mint
Value: 10 apsars	Alloy:	Quantity:	Quality:
Issued: 15 February 2012	Diameter: 39.0 mm	Thickness: 3.3 mm	Weight: 33.94

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]

Banknotes of the Abkhazian apsar
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color	Description		Date of issue
Obverse	Reverse	Value	Dimensions	Main Color	Obverse	Reverse	Date of issue
		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[edit]

^ Blauvelt, Timothy K.; Smith, Jeremy (19 November 2015). Georgia after Stalin: Nationalism and Soviet power. Routledge. ISBN 9781317369790 – via Google Books.
^ Wright, John; Schofield, Richard; Goldenberg, Suzanne (16 December 2003). Transcaucasian Boundaries. Routledge. ISBN 9781135368500 – 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[edit]

[1] Blauvelt, Timothy K.; Smith, Jeremy (19 November 2015). Georgia after Stalin: Nationalism and Soviet power. Routledge. ISBN 9781317369790 – via Google Books.

[2] Wright, John; Schofield, Richard; Goldenberg, Suzanne (16 December 2003). Transcaucasian Boundaries. Routledge. ISBN 9781135368500 – via Google Books.

[reg407-3] (in Russian) Regnum.ru: "Apsar" — part of the country's image

[4] Abkhazia 500 apsars Banknote Museum (www.banknote.ws). Retrieved on 2018-10-28.

[5] Abkhazia new 25-apsar note (B102a) reportedly introduced on 22.05.2023 BanknoteNews (https://banknotenews.com). May 22, 2023. Retrieved on 2023-05-23.

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v t e Currencies of post-Soviet states
Current	Abkhazian apsar* Armenian dram Azerbaijani manat Belarusian ruble Euro Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Georgian lari Kazakhstani tenge Kyrgyz som Moldovan leu Russian ruble Russia, Abkhazia* and South Ossetia* South Ossetian zarin* Tajikistani somoni Transnistrian ruble* Turkmenistani manat Ukrainian hryvnia Uzbekistani sum
Obsolete	Artsakh dram* Chechen naxar* Estonian kroon Georgian kuponi Latvian ruble Latvian lats Lithuanian litas Lithuanian talonas Moldovan cupon Soviet ruble Tajikistani ruble Ukrainian karbovanets
* Unrecognized

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European Union	Bulgarian lev Czech koruna Danish krone (pegged currency: Faroese króna) Euro Hungarian forint Polish złoty Romanian leu Swedish krona
Eastern	Abkhazian apsar (unrecognised) Armenian dram Azerbaijani manat Belarusian ruble Georgian lari Kazakhstani tenge Moldovan leu Russian ruble Transnistrian ruble (unrecognised) Ukrainian hryvnia
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