Abkhazian apsar
Аԥсар (Abkhaz)
10 apsars (obverse)50 apsars (reverse)
ISO 4217
Codenone
Unit
Pluralapsark (аԥсарк)
Denominations
Banknotes25, 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 withRussian 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:

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

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

Commemorative coins of Abkhazian writers

(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

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


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

Commemorative Coin of 2011 World Domino Championship

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


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


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

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
ImageValueDimensionsMain ColorDescriptionDate of issue
ObverseReverseObverseReverse
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

  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.
  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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