Abkhazian apsar explained

Local Name:	Аԥсар
Local Name Lang:	ab
Image 1:	Abkhazia 10 apsar Ag 2008 Ardzinba a.jpg
Image Title 1:	10 apsars (obverse)
Image 2:	Abkhazia 50 apsar Au 2008 Aiaaira b.jpg
Image Title 2:	50 apsars (reverse)
Iso Code:	none
Using Countries:	(alongside Russian ruble)
Pegged With:	аҧ 1 = ₽ 10
Plural:	apsark (аԥсарк)
Used Coins:	1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 apsark
Used Banknotes:	10, 25, 100, 500 apsark
Issuing Authority:	National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia
Mint:	Moscow Mint
Printer:	Goznak

The apsar (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.

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

2009

Commemorative coins of Abkhazian writers

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

Commemorative Nart coin

	The Narts
Designers: R. T. Gablia, V. M. Erokhin		Mint: Moscow Mint
align=center	Value: 25 apsars	align=center	Alloy: Au 999	align=center	Quantity: 1,000	align=center	Quality: Uncirculated
align=center	Issued: 16 November 2009	align=center	Diameter: 22.6 mm	align=center	Thickness:	align=center	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
align=center	Value: 10 apsars	align=center	Alloy: Au 925	align=center	Quantity: Uncirculated	align=center	Quality: Uncirculated
align=center	Issued: 12 September 2011	align=center	Diameter: 39.0 mm	align=center	Thickness:	align=center	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]

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	Value	Dimensions	Main Color	Obverse	Reverse	Date of issue
		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	29 Sep 2018
		100apsars https://nb-ra.org/en/announce.html	150 x 65 mm^[7]	Purple, brown, and green	Caucasian red deer, Caucasus mountains, blackbird on pine branch,.	Dolmens and cromlech from early Bronze Age, amphora, QR code.	10 June2024
		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	Two soldiers standing, each holding a sword and rifle, numeral "25", QR code	22 May 2023
		10apsarshttps://nb-ra.org/en/announce.html	150 x 65 mm^[9]	Orange, red, green, purple	Caucasian leopard, bronze axe, coat of arms	Bronze axe, traditional military staff "alabasha", QR code.	10 June2024

External links

Notes and References

Book: Georgia after Stalin: Nationalism and Soviet power. Timothy K.. Blauvelt. Jeremy. Smith. 19 November 2015. Routledge. 9781317369790. Google Books.
Book: Transcaucasian Boundaries. John. Wright. Richard. Schofield. Suzanne. Goldenberg. 16 December 2003. Routledge. 9781135368500. Google Books.
Regnum.ru: "Apsar" — part of the country's image
http://banknote.ws/COLLECTION/countries/ASI/ABK/ABKW2018-0500.htm Abkhazia 500 apsars
https://banknotenews.com/?p=40034 Abkhazia new 25-apsar note (B102a) reportedly introduced on 22.05.2023
Web site: National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia : The Bank of Abkhazia Information - Vladislav Ardzinba . 2024-06-22 . nb-ra.org.
Web site: National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia : The Bank of Abkhazia Information - Caucasian Red Deer . 2024-06-22 . nb-ra.org.
Web site: National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia : The Bank of Abkhazia Information - Banknote . 2024-06-22 . nb-ra.org.
Web site: National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia : The Bank of Abkhazia Information - Leopard . 2024-06-22 . nb-ra.org.