The apsar (, āpsār; symbol:) 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, 50, 100, 200 and 500 apsars have been issued. While the coins and banknotes are legal tender in the Republic of Abkhazia, their usage is 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.
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. Regnum.ru: "Apsar" — part of the country's image
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 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
2009
Commemorative coins of Abkhazian writers (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 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:
2010
Commemorative Coins of 2010 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia Bediysky Cathedral of St MaryDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy: Quantity:Quality:Issued: 6 December 2010Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 2.0 mmWeight: 33.94Church of St. Simon the CanaaniteDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 6 December 2010Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94Pitsundsky Cathedral of St. AndrewDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 6 December 2010Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94Mykusky Assumption CathedralDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 6 December 2010Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94Lyhnensky Assumption ChurchDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 6 December 2010Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94Elyrsky Church of St. GeorgeDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 6 December 2010Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94Drandsky Assumption CathedralDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 6 December 2010Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94
2011
Commemorative Coin of 2011 World Domino Championship 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 Church of St. Simon the CanaaniteDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 15 February 2012Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94
2012
Commemorative Coins of 2012 Historic Monuments of Abkhazia The Dormition Cathedral of MykuDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 15 February 2012Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94Patriarchal cathedral in PitsundaDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 15 February 2012Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94The Bedia Сathedral of the Mother of GodDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 15 February 2012Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94The Church of St. George in IloriDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 15 February 2012Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94The Dormition Cathedral of DrandaDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 15 February 2012Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94The Dormition Cathedral of LykhnyDesigners: Japua B.RMint: Moscow MintValue: 10 apsarsAlloy:Quantity:Quality:Issued: 15 February 2012Diameter: 39.0 mmThickness: 3.3 mmWeight: 33.94
Banknotes of the Abkhazian apsar On 29 September 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.Abkhazia 500 apsars Banknote Museum (www.banknote.ws). Retrieved on 2018-10-28.
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.Abkhazia new 25-apsar note (B102a) reportedly introduced on 22.05.2023 BanknoteNews (https://banknotenews.com). 22 May 2023. Retrieved on 2023-05-23.
In April 2024, the bank released images of new commemorative banknotes of 10 and 100 apsar. These notes were introduced on 10 June 2024.
In May 2025, the bank released images of new commemorative banknotes of 50 apsar. It was issued on 1 June 2025.
In June 2026, the bank released images of new commemorative banknotes of 200 Apsar, with 5000 notes put into circulation.
+Banknotes of the Abkhazian apsarImageValueDimensionsMain colourDescriptionDate of issueObverseReverse Obverse Reverse Watermark 10 apsars 150 × 65 mm Yellow Caucasian leopard, bronze axe Bronze axe, alabasha (traditional military staff) Face of Caucasian leopard 10 June 2024 25 apsars 150 × 65 mm Green Head of an eagle, eagle in flight Abkhaz soldiers Head of an eagle 22 May 2023 50 apsars 150 × 65 mm Blue Black Sea bottlenose dolphins, jellyfish Medieval warship, seahorse Anchor inside a diamond 1 June 2025 100 apsars 150 × 65 mm Purple Caspian red deer, blackbird with pine branch, Caucasus Mountains Dolmens, and cromlech from early Bronze Age Head of a Caspian red deer 10 June 2024 200 apsars 150 × 65 mm Red Nestor Lakoba, Abkhaz SSR coat of arms, Kiaraz horseman Traditional Abkhaz courtyard, soaring hawk Seven stars in a semi-circle 1 June 2026 500 apsars 150 × 65 mm Brown Vladislav Ardzinba, soldiers raising the flag of Abkhazia Ornament with the emblem of Abkhazia, map of Abkhazia Basket weave pattern 29 September 2018
References
External links
Catalog of the coins of Abkhazia (Numista) Banknote News page for Abkhazia Catalog of the banknotes of Abkhazia (Numista) Catalog of the banknotes of Abkhazia National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia