In a few months Belarus will introduce a new currency. As from 1 July 2016, 10,000 old rubles will be 1 new ruble. Interestingly (from a "coins" point of view) the country will also issue circulation coins - currently they use, in terms of cash payments, paper money only. What looks a little strange is the date on the shown designs. "2009"? Well, that is when Belarus planned to redenominate the current ruble but then gave up those plans. The denominations, and to some extent the looks, will be familiar for people here in the euro area by the way: Coins - 0.01 / 0.02 / 0.05 / 0.10 / 0.20 / 0.50 / 1.00 / 2.00 rubles Notes - 5 / 10 / 20 / 50 / 100 / 200 / 500 rubles More information is here: http://www.nbrb.by/Press/?nId=124&l=en Brochure with images: http://www.nbrb.by/engl/Coinsbanknotes/Denomination2016.pdf Christian
Banknotes are typical, in a spirit of most Eastern Europe countries, nothing unusual. The coins are extremely plain and boring, might be a worthy contestant for worst coin design (in case there is such a contest).
It is probable that they will become effectively worthless in less time than it takes to introduce them. It is a well known fact that people who love the Hitler look are not a good choice to run countries. Without major economic and political /social reform Belarus will continue to tank.
I will disagree to a point, that is that their leader has managed to pull off what the various leaders of Ukraine have not been able to - to ride the high middle ground betwixt two competing power bases and play off of both. Their leader has flirted with union with Russia, all the while been a bridge to Europe for contraband trade betwixt both Europe and Russia. Belarus seemingly demonstrates tacit support of Ukraine in it's struggle with Russia but negotiates with both with the so called Minsk agreements and really doesn't care for the growth of democracy. Where that ties in economically is this, the seemingly moribund Belarusian economy is in something resembling a renaissance and the currency has stabilized. Of course that is all that won't last, either the current conflicts will blow into a war or be subsumed by the conflicts building in the Middle East.
Maybe it was a mistake to bring the topic up here. Had no idea it would get a political drift so fast. Christian
Is this coin actually a Belarus ruble/currency or is it just a token of some sort that falls into the exonumia category? I stumbled upon it while searching ebay and can't figure out if it's their currency or just part of some some weird zodiac "collectible" set from their version of the Franklin Mint.... It's cool though...
Well, it is a collector coin - not exonumia but made specifically for people who collect such pieces. That Gemini issue was minted in Lithuania and issued by the central bank of Belarus. Christian
The National Bank has issued commemorative coins since the mid-90s but they had low mintages and were sold via bank branches. I used to live there during that time and using coins will be very novel. Cutting 4 zeroes off the exchange rate and using coins will be welcome. At one point the rate was 1.4 million to the dollar and you would have to carry wads of cash to make basic purchases.
