Abkhazian apsar

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 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.

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]