...Abkhazia - 500 Apsar 2018 Commemorative Issue

Аҧсны Аҳәынҭқарра

Republic of Abkhazia
National Bank of Abkhazia

This 500 apsar note was issued to honour the first President of the Republic of Abkhazia, Vladislav Arynba (b.1945-2010) and also the 25th Anniversary of the Victory in the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia (civil war against Georgia) in 1992. Vladislav Arynba was the President of Abkhazia from 1994 to 2005. He died in Moscow in 2010 but the cause of his death was not announced to the public.

The Republic of Abkhazia was once part of Georgia but lost control of the territory following the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia. Despite both Georgia and Abkhazia signing a ceasefire agreement in 1994 and following up years of negotiations, the dispute remains unresolved. The Republic of Abkhazia is situated on the western side of Georgia and shares the same border with Russia. It has a land size of 8660 km2 or about 12.5% of the whole of Georgia. Despite losing the control of Abkhazia, the majority of the international community still considered Abkhazia as part of Georgia. Today only five countries recognise Abkhazia as an independent nation and these five countries are Russia, Nauru, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Syria.

The currency used in this country is called apsar. The value of one apsar is equal to 10 Russian Rubles and therefore this 500 apsar is worth 5000 rubles.

This commemorative note was issued on 29.09.2018. The reported quantity issued was 10,000 pieces. This note is not intended for general circulation. This note is printed on cotton based paper banknotes and is measured at 150mm x 65mm.

Whilst many coins have been minted since declaring independence in 1992, this is the first time it has issued a banknote. If you have this note in your collection, then your collection for the Abkhazia banknote is complete.

Designs
Front: Portrait of the late President Vladislav Arynba, one soldier holding up with a military weapon on one hand and another soldier raising the Abkhazia flag;
Back: National Emblem and flag of Abkhazia, Map of Abkhazia, seven stars representing all seven regions of Abkhazia. This note is also printed with the Quick Response (QR) code.

The issuance of this note was announced by the Chairman of the National Bank of Abkhazia, Beslan Baratella.

Five Hundred Apsar

Dared 2018, Vladislav Arynba (b 1945-2010)

Reverse - Seal, Abkhazia (land)

Footnote: -
Apart from Abkhazia, Georgia also lost control of the region called South Ossetia when it declared independence in 1991. As per Abkhazia, South Ossetia is also recognised by only five countries, namely Russia, Nauru, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Syria, but the majority of the international community do not.