The apsar (Abkhazian : аԥсар , āpsār ) is a currency of Abkhazia . So far, only coins in denominations of 1, 2, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100 apsars and banknote for 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]
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
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:
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
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
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]
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
References [ edit ]
External links [ edit ]
European Union Eastern Southern Western
Currencies of Asia
Central East North South Southeast West