Republic of Abkhazia

The Republic of Abkhazia is a partially recognized state located on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Its territory is 8665 sq. km., the population does not exceed 250,000 people. The capital of Abkhazia is the city of Sukhum. During the existence of the USSR, Abkhazia was part of the Georgian SSR on the rights of autonomy. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Abkhazians declared self-determination and seceded from the Georgian Republic, which provoked the bloody Georgian-Abkhazian war of 1992-1993, during which each side lost up to 5,000 people killed. After the victory over the Georgians, Abkhazia officially declared independence (November 26, 1994) and began to focus on active cooperation with Russia. After the Russian-Georgian conflict in August 2008, the Russian Federation officially recognized the sovereignty of the Republic of Abkhazia. After it, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Syria, Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu recognized the independence of the country, but later Tuvalu and Vanuatu withdrew their recognition.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The currency of the Republic of Abkhazia is officially the Russian ruble. At the same time, the law of 22.04.2008 introduced the national currency - the Abkhazian apsar, equal to 10 Russian rubles. These coins are issued in very small editions and do not participate in real circulation. At the same time, they are legal means of payment. The cost of apsars is quite high, especially investment coins made to meet the needs of collectors. They are minted in Russia, and distributed through the Bank of Abkhazia. Coins are issued in denominations of 1, 2, 10, 20, 50 and 100 apsars; also in 2018, the only 500 apsar banknote was issued at the moment, corresponding to 5000 Russian rubles.

 

The series "Temples of Abkhazia".
1 apsar 2016, steel with brass electroplating, weight - 5 grams, diameter - 22 mm, thickness - 2 mm, mintage - 2000 pcs. The author of the design: Japua Batal Rushnievich. "Mykusky Assumption Cathedral". Single release.

 

I visited Abkhazia in September 2021. I took some beautiful photos.

 

The series "Temples of Abkhazia".
1 apsar 2016, steel with brass electroplating, weight - 5 grams, diameter - 22 mm, thickness - 2 mm, mintage - 2000 pcs. The author of the design: Japua Batal Rushnievich. Single release. "The Bedian Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin".

 

The series "Temples of Abkhazia".
1 apsar 2016, steel with brass electroplating, weight - 5 grams, diameter - 22 mm, thickness - 2 mm, mintage - 2000 pcs. The author of the design: Japua Batal Rushnievich. Single release. "Pitsunda Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called".

 

The series "Temples of Abkhazia".
1 apsar 2016, steel with brass electroplating, weight - 5 grams, diameter - 22 mm, thickness - 2 mm, mintage - 2000 pcs. The author of the design: Japua Batal Rushnievich. Single release. "Elyrian church of St. George".

 

The series "Temples of Abkhazia".
1 apsar 2016, steel with brass electroplating, weight - 5 grams, diameter - 22 mm, thickness - 2 mm, mintage - 2000 pcs. The author of the design: Japua Batal Rushnievich. Single release. "Dranda's Assumption Cathedral".

 

The series "Temples of Abkhazia".
1 apsar 2016, steel with brass electroplating, weight - 5 grams, diameter - 22 mm, thickness - 2 mm, mintage - 2000 pcs. The author of the design: Japua Batal Rushnievich. Single release. "New Athos Church of St. Simon the Cananite".

 

That is all.

 

Amazing, a place I didn't know about. Thanks for sharing!

 

I reckon you can't get into Abkhazia via Georgia. Interestingly, during the Philadelphia ANA gathering in 2018, Abkhazia had a representative with a table trying to elicit interest in the country and its coins!

 

No. Russians freely cross the border of Abkhazia. We have a visa-free regime with this country.

 

A tree hugger. nice lol

 

Abkhazia has dairy farms and cheese manufacturing, because I get a smoked string cheese that comes from there in Russian grocery. There are some foods, like dairy, that are just better from Russia - cheese, yogurt, grechka etc.