Finance:Abkhazian apsar

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Short description: Currency of Abkhazia
Apsar
аԥсар (Abkhaz)
10 apsars (obverse)50 apsars (reverse)
ISO 4217
Codenone
Unit
Pluralpsark (ԥсарк)
Denominations
Banknotes10, 25, 50, 100, 500 apsark
Coins1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 apsark
Demographics
User(s) Abkhazia (alongside Russian ruble)
Issuance
Central bankNational Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia
 Websitewww.nb-ra.org
PrinterGoznak
MintMoscow Mint
 Websitewww.mmint.ru
Valuation
Pegged withаҧ 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, 50, 100, and 500 apsars have been issued. While the coins and banknotes are legal tender in the Republic of Abkhazia, their usage is 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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Commemorative coins of Abkhazian writers

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(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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Commemorative Coins of 2010 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia

160px160px 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
160px160px 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
160px160px 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
160px160px 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
160px160px 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
160px160px 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
160px160px 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

Commemorative Coin of 2011 World Domino Championship

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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

160px160px 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

Commemorative Coins of 2012 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia

160px160px 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
160px160px 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
160px160px 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
160px160px 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
160px160px 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
160px160px 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

On 29 September 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.

In May 2025 the bank released images of new commemorative banknotes of 50 apsar. Its planned to be issued in June 2025[6]

Banknotes of the Abkhazian apsar
Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description Date of issue Ref.
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark
105px 105px 10 apsars 150 × 65 mm Yellow Caucasian leopard, bronze axe Bronze axe, alabasha (traditional military staff) Face of Caucasian leopard 10 June 2024 [7]
105px 105px 25 apsars 150 × 65 mm Green Head of an eagle, eagle in flight Abkhaz soldiers Head of an eagle 22 May 2023 [8]
105px 105px 50 apsars 150 × 65 mm Blue Black Sea bottlenose dolphins, jellyfish Medieval warship, seahorse Anchor inside a diamond 1 June 2025 [9]
105px 105px 100 apsars 150 × 65 mm Purple Caspian red deer, blackbird with pine branch, Caucasus Mountains Dolmens, and cromlech from early Bronze Age Head of a Caspian red deer 10 June 2024 [10]
105px 105px 500 apsars 150 × 65 mm Brown Vladislav Ardzinba, soldiers raising the flag of Abkhazia Ornament with the emblem of Abkhazia, map of Abkhazia Basket weave pattern 29 September 2018 [11]
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre (18 pixel per inch). For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

References

  1. ↑ Blauvelt, Timothy K.; Smith, Jeremy (19 November 2015). Georgia after Stalin: Nationalism and Soviet power. Routledge. ISBN 9781317369790. https://books.google.com/books?id=MH_4CgAAQBAJ&q=apsar&pg=PA131. 
  2. ↑ Wright, John; Schofield, Richard; Goldenberg, Suzanne (16 December 2003). Transcaucasian Boundaries. Routledge. ISBN 9781135368500. https://books.google.com/books?id=P_2NAgAAQBAJ&q=apsar&pg=PA199. 
  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). 22 May 2023. Retrieved on 2023-05-23.
  6. ↑ "National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia : The Bank of Abkhazia Information - Announce". https://nb-ra.org/en/announce-banknote-dolphins.html. 
  7. ↑ "Leopard - Banknote of the Bank of Abkhazia of 2024 with a face value of 10 apsars" (in en). Sukhumi. 11 June 2024. https://nb-ra.org/en/banknote-leopard-10-apsars.html. 
  8. ↑ "Banknote - A banknote of the Bank of Abkhazia of 2023 in denomination of 25 apsars" (in en). Sukhumi. 22 May 2023. https://nb-ra.org/en/banknote-30th-anniversary-of-victory-en.html. 
  9. ↑ "Dolphin - Commemorative banknote of the Bank of Abkhazia 2025 “Dolphin” with a face value of 50 apsaras." (in en). Sukhumi. 9 May 2025. https://nb-ra.org/en/dolphin.html. 
  10. ↑ "Caucasian Red Deer - Banknote of the Bank of Abkhazia 2024 with a face value of 100 apsars" (in en). Sukhumi. 10 June 2024. https://nb-ra.org/en/banknote-deer-100-apsars.html. 
  11. ↑ "Vladislav Ardzinba - A banknote of the Bank of Abkhazia of 2018 in denomination of 500 apsars" (in en). Sukhumi. 17 September 2018. https://nb-ra.org/en/kopiya-vladislav-ar%D3%A1yinba.html. 

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