...Abkhazia - 10 and 100 Apsar 2024 Numismatic Products

Аҧсны Аҳәынҭқарра

(Republic of Abkhazia)

 

Аԥсны Аҳәынҭқарра Амилаҭтә Банк

(National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia, Est 1991)

Currency - Apsar (Apsara)

 

Here are two commemorative banknotes of 10 and 100 apsar, both released on 10.06.2024. Both notes are dated 2024. Whilst these two notes were released as commemorative notes, I have no idea what they are celebrating or commemorating for? 

 

The Republic of Abkhazia first issued a commemorative note of 500 apsar in 2018 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Victory in the Patriotic War 1993-2018. Five years later, it then released a second commemorative banknote of 25 apsar in 2023 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Victory in the Patriotic War 1993-2023.

 

The Republic of Abkhazia is a disputed region situated in the Caucasus region and was once controlled by the government of Georgia. Georgia lost control of the territory following the 1992-1993 war. Despite both Georgia and Abkhazia signing a ceasefire agreement in 1994, and following years of negotiations, the dispute remains unresolved. Abkhazia is backed by Russia and that is why it managed to stay free from Georgia since 1993. As this is a disputed territory, only six countries recognised its independence, countries like Nauru, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela and Russia of course. Georgia was once a member of the Soviet Union and became an independence state following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Georgia became fully independent from the Soviet Union on 6.12.1991. 

It was reported that up to 500,000 pieces have been issued for the 10 spsar and only 10,000 pieces issued for the 100 spsar. This is a lot for the 10 apsar especially the population in Abkhazia is less than 250,000 people. Prior to the 1992-1993 war, Abkhazia had a population in excess of 500,000 people. The war of 1992-1993 led to the reduction of population due to displacement, ethnic cleansing and many were expelled from the territory by the Abkhaz separatists. Unlike those previously issued (25 and 500 apsar), I believe the 10 apsar is meant for general circulation and the 100 apsar is not. The Russian ruble currency is circulating in Abkhazia as currency.

Ten Apsar

 

Front - The main image of the obverse of the banknote consists of an image of a Caucasian leopard's head with its curl-up tail, an ornamented ancient bronze axe next to the leopard's head. A leopard's paw is printed on the lower left side. Images of Seven Stars from the state flag of the Republic of Abkhazia. In the right and left sectors there are images of the state emblem of the Republic of Abkhazia and the denomination of the banknote. 

 

Signature - Beslan Baratelia (Chairman since 2014)

Series - 2024

Quantity Issued - 500,000 pieces

Watermark - Leopard head

Dimensions -152mm x 65.5mm

 

Back - The main image of the reverse side of the banknote consists of images of a bronze axe and the upper part of the traditional Abkhaz military and hierarchical staff “alabasha”. Images of Seven Stars from the state flag of the Republic of Abkhazia. The field on the reverse side also shows the denomination and serial number of the banknote.

One Hundred Apsar

 

Front - The main image of the front side of the banknote is a red deer against the backdrop of the snow-capped Caucasus mountains and a blackbird on a pine branch. In the left sector of the front side there is an image of the state emblem of the Republic of Abkhazia and the denomination of the banknote. 

 

Signature - Beslan Baratelia (Chairman since 2014)

Series - 2024

Quantity Issued - 10,000 pieces

Watermark - red deer

Dimensions -152.5mm x 65.5mm

 

Back - The main image of the reverse side of the banknote is the historical monuments of Abkhazia of the Early Bronze Age - dolmens and cromlechs, as well as ancient bronze items discovered on the territory of Abkhazia during archaeological expeditions. The field on the reverse side of the banknote also contains the denomination designation and the serial number of the banknote.

...Yemen - 2016 To 2018 full Set Of Five Notes

ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱلْيَمَنِيَّةُ

Republic of Yemen

 

البنك المركزي اليمني

Central Bank of Yemen, Est.1971

Currency - Riyal (YER)

 

Prior to 22.05.1990, Yemen was divided into two countries, North Yemen (capital - Sanna) and South Yemen (capital - Aden). These two countries then united as one and formed the Republic of Yemen.

 

Yemen is one of the least developed and also the poorest countries in the world. In 2014, civil war broke out with multiple entities or groups controlling the country. The civil war is still ongoing but with ceasefire declared on 02.04.2022. Negotiations to end the war started in April 2023 and it is still ongoing.

Here I have posted 5 notes of 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 rials. These notes are printed with the year dates of 2016, 2017 and 2018. Whilst this is a full set, the signatures are not. The interesting story for this series is the 5000 rials. These 5000 rials notes were reportedly printed in 2016 or 2017 and were ordered by the Central Bank of Yemen in the Northern capital of Sana'a, under control by the Houthi rebels backed by Iran and Russia. Then around 2017, a truck load of such notes were seized by tribesmen. Since then, none of these notes surfaced until early 2024 when they appeared in the numismatic market. If I have to judge on the authenticity of this note, I would say that this is a counterfeit print as it lacks those normal or usual security features.

 

One Hundred Rials

Socotra dragon blood trees

 

Front - The main feature is that the Socotra dragon blood trees is native trees of Socotra. This tree is also the national tree of Yemen. Qamariya stained glass window and an outline of a mosque.

 

Governor - Mohammed Zammam

Watermarks - Coat of Arms and electrotype ١٠٠  

Dimensions - 151mm x 69.5mm

 

Back - Terraced agricultural farming fields and Queen Arwa Mosque Mihrab decorated niche.

Terraced agricultural farming fields

Two Hundred Rials

Historic town of Zabid

 

Front - Historic town of Zabid and is one of the oldest towns in Yemen. This town has been listed as a UNESCO World heritage Site since 1993. An outline of a mosque.

Governor - Mohamed Awad bin Human

Watermarks - Coat of Arms and electrotype ۲۰۰

Dimensions - 151mm x 70mm

 

Back - Landscape of Hauf National Park in Al-Mahrah Governorate. Mosque Mihrab decorated niche.

 

Landscape of Hauf National Park

Five Hundred Rials

Al-Muhdhar mosque

 

Front - Al-Muhdhar mosque in Tarim, built in 1914. An outline of a mosque.

 

Governor - Mohammed Zammam

Watermarks - Coat of Arms and electrotype ۵٠٠

Dimensions - 156mm x 70mm

 

Back - Palace of the Rock or Dar al-Hajar. It is also known as Stone House. This is a former palace located in Wadi Dhar and was built in 1920. It was used as a Summer retreat of the ruler of Yemen from 1904 to 1948. It is now used as a museum.

 

Palace of the Rock or Dar al-Hajar

 

One Thousand Rials

Seiyub Palace

Front - Seiyub Palace in Seiyun. This was once the royal residence of the Sultan Kathiri and is now used as a museum.

 

Governor - Mohammed Zammam

Watermarks - Coat of Arms and electrotype ١٠٠٠

Dimensions - 156mm x 70mm

 

Back - View of Sana city with the Bab Al-Yaman gate. Sana is the largest city and is also the capital city of Yemen.

 

Sana city with the Bab Al-Yaman gate

Five Thousand Rials

Al-Muhdhar mosque in Tarim

Front - Al-Muhdhar mosque in Tarim. This is a historical mosque and was built in 1914. Tarim is situated in the center right of Yemen.

 

Signature - Unknown

Dimensions - 159.5mm x 85mm

 

Back - Throne of the Queen of Bilqis (Queen of Saba) in Ma'rib. This is a temple which is dated back to the 10th century. This temple is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

 

Throne of the Queen of Bilqis (Queen of Saba) in Ma'rib

...Kazakhstan - Signature Grigory Alexandrovich Marchenko (Tenure 2009-2013)

Қазақстан Республикасы

(Republic of Kazakhstan)

 

Қазақстан Ұлттық Банкі

(National Bank of Kazakhstan)

Currency - Tenge (KZT)

 

Here I have posted two of the three normal circulation notes issued with the signature of Grigory Alexandrovich Marchenko. Marchenko was the Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan from 2009 to 2013. I believe only three notes were issued with his signature for the normal circulating notes. In addition to this, his signature also appeared on five other banknotes issued for commemorative purposes from 1000 tenge to 20000 tenge. This series has changed little since it was first introduced in 2011. The 10000 tenge note is printed on Hybrid material.

 

Two Thousand Tenge

Dated 2012, flag, Kazakh Eli monument, Khan Shatyr tents, flying pigeons, antelope

Outline map of Kazakhstan, Irtysh river

Five Thousand Tenge (Missing)

 

Ten Thousand Tenge (Hybrid)

Dated 2012, Kazakh Eli monument in Nur-Sultan, flying pigeons

Ak Orda President Palace in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan

...Tajikistan - 2022 Reprints Hybrid And Paper Banknotes Full Set

Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон

(Republic of Tajikistan)

 

Национальный банк Таджикистана

(National Bank of Tajikistan, Est.1991)

Currency - Somoni (TJS)

 

Signatures;-

President - Emomalij Rahmon (Emomali Sharipovich Rakhmonov, since November 1994)

Governor - Knoliqzoda Hokim Hikmatullo (tenure 2020-2024)

 

Here is a full set of six notes all printed with the year date of 2022. These are the reprint of the 2021 series in full set. There are no changes to the designs or signatures except for the year date. I believe both the 20 and 50 somoni are still hybrid notes, including the 500 somoni as well. The rest are paper notes.

 

Collecting banknotes in full sets is always more enjoyable than just getting odd ones.

 

Ten Somoni

Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadoni (b.1312-1384)

Front - Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadoni (b. 1312-1384) was an Iranian born scholar and poet. During his lifetime, he traveled widely preaching Islam in central Asia, including China and northern India.

Watermark - Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadoni

Dimensions - 148mm x 66mm

Back - Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadoni mausoleum in Kulob, a town situated in the southeast of Dushanbe.

Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadoni mausoleum in Kulob

 

Twenty Somoni (Hybrid)

Abuali ibn Sino (Абуалй ибни Сино b.980-1037)

Front - Abuali ibn Sino (Абуалй ибни Сино b.980-1037), a physician, astronomers, philosopher and a writer too.

 

Watermark - Abuali ibn Sino

Dimensions - 151mm x 66mm 

 

Back - Hisor Fortress (Қалъаи Ҳисор) is situated in the town of Hisor on the western side of Tajikistan.

 

Hisor Fortress (Қалъаи Ҳисор)

 

Fifty Somoni (Hybrid)

Bobojon Gafurov (Бобочон Гафуров b.1908-1977)

Front - Bobojon Gafurov PhD (Бобочон Гафуров b.1908-1977) was a historian, academician and a writer. He is also known as Babadzan Gafurovich Gafurov. His portrait first appeared on the 50 somoni banknote in 1999 honouring the 90th anniversary of his birth.

 

Watermark - Bobojon Gafurov

Dimensions - 154mm x 66mm

Back - Choikhanai Sibne tea house (Чоихонаи Сино) in Dushanbe.

 

Choikhanai Sibne tea house (Чоихонаи Сино) in Dushanbe

 

One Hundred Somoni

Ismoili Somoni (Исмоили Сомони b.849-907)

Front - Ismoili Somoni (Исмоили Сомони b.849-907). He was the ruler of Transoxiana from 892 to 907 and Khorasan, from 900 to 907. In Tajikistan, there is a town and mountain named after him.

Watermark - Ismoili Somoni

Dimensions - 157mm x 65.5mm

Back - The Navruz Palace (Kохи Наврўз) in Dushanbe. 

 

The Navruz Palace (Kохи Наврўз)

Two Hundred Somoni

Nusratullo Makhsum (Нусратулло Махсум b.1881-1937)

Front - Nusratullo Makhsum (Нусратулло Махсум b.1881-1937), the building of the Central Executive Committee of the former Council of National Commissioners of Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

 

Watermark - Nusratullo Makhsum

Dimensions - 160mm x 65.5mm

 

Back - National library (Китобхонаи миллй) in Dushanbe.

 

National library ( Китобхонаи миллй)

 

Five Hundred Somoni (Hybrid)

Abu Abdul Lokhi Rudaki (b.858-940)

Front - Portrait of Abu Abdul Lokhi Rudaki (b.858-940). He was a Persian poet, singer and musician.

 

Watermark - Abu Abdul Lokhi Rudaki

Dimensions - 162.5mm x 65.5mm

 

Back - Palace of Nation in Dushanbe. This is the official residence of the President of Tajikistan. Construction of this building commenced in 2000 and only finished in 2008. This building is located on Shirinshoh Shohtemur Street in the capital city. The site of this building once housed the Dushanbe Synagogue, a local ritual bath and a butcher, and all these properties were confiscated without any compensation to the owners. The Dushanbe Synagogue was the last Synagogue in the country. The Palace of Nation comprises a 4-storey building.

Palace of Nation in Dushanbe

...Iraq - 5000, 25000 And 50000 Dinars All Dated 2021 (Hybrid)

جمهورية العراق 

(Republic of Iraq)

 

البنك المركزي العراقي 

(Central Bank of Iraq, est.1947)

Currency - Dinar (IQD)

 

Here I have posted three notes of 5000, 25000 (Hybrid) and 50000 dinars (Hybrid) all printed with the year date of 2021. It is believed that these are the only three notes issued for this particular year. The 5000 dinars is printed on paper material, whilst the remaining two are on Hybrid. There are no changes to these designs, except the year 2021.

 

Five Thousand Dinars (Paper)

Gali Ali Bag waterfall

Front - The Gali Ali Bag waterfall is depicted in the center. This waterfall is located in the Kurdistan Region, and is the highest waterfall in the Kurdistan Region and all of Iraq. The waterfall is about 95 km northeast of Erbil, the capital city of Kurdistan Region.

 

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned*)

Watermark - Cow's head

Dimensions - 159mm x 78.5mm

 

Back -A bird-eye view of al-Ukether Fortress. This fortress is in a rectangular shape and was built in 775 AD. It is located about 50 km south of Karbala in Iraq. This site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.

Note * - Resigned due to the plunging of the Iraqi dinar in value.

al-Ukether Fortress

Twenty Five Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

Kurdish girl holding a jug over her right shoulder, a tractor ploughing

Front - A Kurdish girl holding a jug over her right shoulder, a tractor ploughing the field loosening or turning the soil before planting. On the right is an ancient dinar coin. In the center of the note, it features a bunch of wheat.

 

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned*)

Watermark - Cow's head

Dimensions - 177.5mm x 78.5mm

 

Back - The main feature on the back of the note is the stone caving of the image of Hamurabiiy yatasallam al-sharia (King Hammurabi receiving the Law). On the bottom left is a sculpture of a standing animal, and in the bottom center are two horses walking toward each other.

 

Hamurabiiy yatasallam al-sharia

Fifty Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

A water wheel, palm trees and the Gali Ali Beg waterfall

Front - Featuring a water wheel, palm trees and the Gali Ali Beg waterfall.

 

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned*)

Watermark - Cow's head and electrotype ۵٠٠٠٠٠

Dimensions - 160.5mm x 65.5mm

 

Back - The images of people floating on the marches, a reed house, two buffaloes swimming in the marshes, wildlife migrating to the marches and the Tigris rivers. The water for the marshes mainly came from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

 

Mesopotamian Marshes