Abkhazian apsar

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.

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 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

	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 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.

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	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	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

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). 22 May 2023. Retrieved on 2023-05-23.
6. "National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia : The Bank of Abkhazia Information - Vladislav Ardzinba". nb-ra.org. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
7. "National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia : The Bank of Abkhazia Information - Caucasian Red Deer". nb-ra.org. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
8. "National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia : The Bank of Abkhazia Information - Banknote". nb-ra.org. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
9. "National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia : The Bank of Abkhazia Information - Leopard". nb-ra.org. Retrieved 22 June 2024.

External links

• 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