{"title":"Georgia","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"abkhazia-p-7-10-apsar-2024-russian-occupied-part-of-georgia-leopard-2","title":"Abkhazia P-7 10 Apsar 2024 —Russian-occupied part of Georgia; Leopard","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFront\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoat of arms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLeopard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAncient bronze axe with primitive drawing of animal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBack\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAncient bronze axe with primitive drawing of animal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStylized upper part of \u003cstrong\u003ealabasha\u003c\/strong\u003e (traditional Abkhaz military and hierarchical staff)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat the heck \u003cem\u003eis\u003c\/em\u003e Abkhazia?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"272\" data-start=\"55\"\u003eAbkhazia is a territory on the eastern coast of the Black Sea in the Caucasus that functions as a \u003cstrong data-end=\"183\" data-start=\"153\"\u003ede facto independent state\u003c\/strong\u003e, but is \u003cstrong data-end=\"271\" data-start=\"192\"\u003einternationally recognized as part of \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eGeorgia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"462\" data-start=\"274\"\u003eIn practical terms, Abkhazia governs itself with its own government, borders, and institutions. However, most countries and international organizations consider it legally part of Georgia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"477\" data-start=\"464\" data-section-id=\"ao0xtq\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeography\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"669\" data-start=\"479\"\u003eAbkhazia lies along the northeastern coast of the Black Sea. To the north it borders Russia, while the rest of its land border touches Georgia. The capital and main port city is \u003cstrong data-end=\"668\" data-start=\"657\"\u003eSukhumi\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"966\" data-start=\"671\"\u003eThe territory is relatively small—about 8,600 square kilometers—but geographically dramatic. A narrow subtropical coastal strip rises quickly into the high Caucasus Mountains. The climate is warm and humid along the coast, which historically made the region a popular Soviet seaside resort area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"988\" data-start=\"968\" data-section-id=\"1nqa0aj\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePolitical status\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1219\" data-start=\"990\"\u003eThe modern political situation dates to the breakup of the Soviet Union. Abkhazia had been an autonomous republic within Soviet Georgia. As the USSR collapsed, tensions between Abkhaz and Georgian political movements intensified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1450\" data-start=\"1221\"\u003eThe conflict erupted in the \u003cstrong data-end=\"1290\" data-start=\"1249\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eWar in Abkhazia (1992–1993)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. Abkhaz forces ultimately expelled Georgian government troops. During and after the war, most of the region’s ethnic Georgian population fled or was displaced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1737\" data-start=\"1452\"\u003eSince then Abkhazia has operated as a self-governing state with its own president, parliament, army, and border controls. Only a handful of countries—most prominently Russia—recognize its independence. The vast majority of the world continues to treat the territory as part of Georgia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1825\" data-start=\"1739\"\u003eRussia maintains military bases in Abkhazia and provides substantial economic support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1841\" data-start=\"1827\" data-section-id=\"1r3tiq5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePopulation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2023\" data-start=\"1843\"\u003eThe population is roughly 240,000 people. The largest ethnic group is the Abkhaz themselves, followed by Armenians, Georgians (mostly Mingrelians), and a smaller Russian community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2341\" data-start=\"2025\"\u003eThree languages are commonly heard. \u003cstrong data-end=\"2071\" data-start=\"2061\"\u003eAbkhaz\u003c\/strong\u003e is the traditional local language and belongs to the Northwest Caucasian language family. \u003cstrong data-end=\"2173\" data-start=\"2162\"\u003eRussian\u003c\/strong\u003e functions as the main everyday lingua franca and is widely used in administration and commerce. \u003cstrong data-end=\"2282\" data-start=\"2270\"\u003eGeorgian\u003c\/strong\u003e is spoken mainly among the remaining Georgian communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2355\" data-start=\"2343\" data-section-id=\"1ptbedd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2540\" data-start=\"2357\"\u003eAbkhazia has issued a small number of commemorative coins and banknotes through its national bank, 1 apsar equal to 10 Russian rubles . In everyday life, however, the \u003cstrong data-end=\"2490\" data-start=\"2473\"\u003eRussian ruble\u003c\/strong\u003e is the currency used for nearly all transactions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2567\" data-start=\"2542\" data-section-id=\"tp5u7o\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical background\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2803\" data-start=\"2569\"\u003eThe region has passed through many political spheres over the centuries. In antiquity it was associated with the Greek world of Colchis. Later it came under Byzantine influence and eventually formed part of medieval Georgian kingdoms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3034\" data-start=\"2805\"\u003eAfter centuries of shifting control between regional powers, the Russian Empire annexed the area in the nineteenth century. Under the Soviet Union it became the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Georgian SSR.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3141\" data-start=\"3036\"\u003eThe unresolved legacy of those Soviet-era administrative borders lies at the heart of the modern dispute.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3420\" data-start=\"3183\"\u003ePolitical scientists describe Abkhazia as a \u003cstrong data-end=\"3266\" data-start=\"3227\"\u003epartially recognized de facto state\u003c\/strong\u003e. That means it functions as an independent country in practice but lacks broad international recognition and is legally considered part of another state.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3537\" data-start=\"3422\"\u003eOther places often described in similar terms include Transnistria, South Ossetia, Northern Cyprus, and Somaliland.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51782560514359,"sku":"ABKH7U","price":4.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/3o_f36e93de-ca60-4ec2-8402-edbb298df0ef.jpg?v=1773591468"},{"product_id":"georgia-p-n-390756-1000-roubles-1992-unc-state-loan","title":"Georgia 1000 Roubles 1992 UNC—State Loan Bond—Loan Repayment Scheme","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the most unusual documents to emerge from the chaos of post-Soviet independence: a 1992 Georgian state internal loan bond, denominated in Russian roubles, printed in Georgian script by Russia's own state printer — a snapshot of a nation scrambling to build financial infrastructure from scratch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFront\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColors:\u003c\/strong\u003e light tan\/cream background; dark brown engraving; muted green accents\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eText in Georgian Mkhedruli script reading \u003cem\u003eსაქართველოს რესპუბლიკა\u003c\/em\u003e — \"Republic of Georgia\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDenomination: \u003cstrong\u003e1000 Roubles\u003c\/strong\u003e, prominently displayed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeries and bond number: 20960 \/ 1992\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull Georgian-language text declaring this a \"State internal profitable loan 1992\" bond in the amount of one thousand roubles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColors:\u003c\/strong\u003e cream\/off-white background; dark brown printed text and grid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLoan repayment schedule — a printed table showing the scheme for paying off the loan over time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDenomination \u003cstrong\u003e1000\u003c\/strong\u003e and year \u003cstrong\u003e1992\u003c\/strong\u003e repeated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single known variety — \u003cstrong\u003e1992 state loan — this note\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCatalog numbers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Numista N#390756\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 160 × 116 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper exonumia (state loan bond — not a circulating banknote)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing entity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Republic of Georgia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Goznak\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGoznak\u003c\/a\u003e (Экспедиция заготовления государственных бумаг), Russian Federation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDemonetized:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Demonetization_(currency)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eYes\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScript:\u003c\/strong\u003e Georgian (Mkhedruli)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e Russian Rouble (transitional; Georgia had not yet issued its own currency)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial language:\u003c\/strong\u003e Georgian\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Georgia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e The English name \"Georgia\" likely derives from the Persian \u003cem\u003eGurj\u003c\/em\u003e or Arabic \u003cem\u003eJurjān\u003c\/em\u003e, possibly referencing St. George, the country's patron saint. Georgians call their country \u003cem\u003eსაქართველო\u003c\/em\u003e (Sakartvelo), meaning \"land of the Kartvelians.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapital:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tbilisi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTbilisi\u003c\/a\u003e (city pop. ~1.1 million; metro ~1.5 million)\n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e From the Old Georgian \u003cem\u003eTpilisi\u003c\/em\u003e, meaning \"warm place\" — a reference to the city's natural sulfuric hot springs, still in use today.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePopulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~3.7 million (UN 2023) — roughly South Carolina or Oregon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 69,700 km² (26,911 mi²) — slightly smaller than South Carolina; comparable to the Republic of Ireland\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGDP per capita (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purchasing_power_parity\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePPP\u003c\/a\u003e):\u003c\/strong\u003e ~$22,000 (IMF 2024)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMain exports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Copper ore, vehicles, ferro-alloys, wine, mineral water, hazelnuts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBorders:\u003c\/strong\u003e Russia (north), Azerbaijan (east), Armenia (south), Turkey (southwest), Black Sea (west)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial\/spoken language:\u003c\/strong\u003e Georgian (Kartvelian language family — unrelated to any other language family on Earth)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEthnicities:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Georgians\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGeorgians\u003c\/a\u003e (~86%), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Azerbaijanis_in_Georgia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAzerbaijanis\u003c\/a\u003e (~6%), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Armenians_in_Georgia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eArmenians\u003c\/a\u003e (~5%), Russians and others\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMemberships:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Nations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eUnited Nations\u003c\/a\u003e (1992); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Council_of_Europe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCouncil of Europe\u003c\/a\u003e (1999); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/World_Trade_Organization\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWTO\u003c\/a\u003e (2000); EU candidate status (2023)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSovereignty:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAncient kingdoms of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Colchis\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eColchis\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kingdom_of_Iberia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIberia\u003c\/a\u003e (c. 6th century BC onward)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnified Kingdom of Georgia (1008–1490) — golden age under Queen \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tamar_the_Great\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTamar\u003c\/a\u003e (1184–1213)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFragmentation and Mongol\/Persian\/Ottoman invasions (13th–18th centuries)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnnexed by the Russian Empire (1801)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrief independence: Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918–1921)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoviet annexation (1921); Georgian SSR within the USSR\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndependence restored (April 9, 1991) — \u003cstrong\u003ethis bond issued during the first year of independence\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRepublic of Georgia (1991–date)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGeorgia Unfiltered\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeorgia is one of the world's oldest wine-producing regions — archaeological evidence of winemaking dates back 8,000 years, predating ancient Egypt's wine culture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Georgian alphabet is one of only 14 unique writing systems in the world and is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn 1992, Georgia was simultaneously fighting two separatist wars (South Ossetia and Abkhazia) while also experiencing a civil war — making this bond's issuance an act of extraordinary institutional ambition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeorgia has no McDonald's — one of the few European countries that doesn't\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe country has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites per capita than most of its neighbors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeorgians are among the world's most hospitable peoples by cultural tradition — the concept of \u003cem\u003eTamada\u003c\/em\u003e (toastmaster) at feasts is a centuries-old institution\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJoseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia — a fact the country has a complicated relationship with\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA Nation Writing Its Own Rules\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1992, Georgia had been independent for less than a year. The Soviet Union had just collapsed, the national currency didn't exist yet, and the country was already at war on two fronts. Into this void, the Republic of Georgia issued this bond — denominated in Russian roubles, printed by Russia's own Goznak facility, and written entirely in Georgian script. It is a document of defiant nation-building: asserting Georgian identity and financial sovereignty with the only tools available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe repayment schedule on the reverse\u003c\/strong\u003e is particularly poignant — a government promising future payment to its own citizens at a moment when the future was genuinely uncertain. Most of these bonds were never redeemed at face value in any meaningful economic sense.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFor the Collector\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOwn this extraordinary artifact of post-Soviet transition — a 1992 Georgian state loan bond in UNC condition, printed in Georgian Mkhedruli script by Goznak, Russia. It is simultaneously a financial instrument, a political statement, and a piece of living history from one of the most turbulent years in the Caucasus. Few items in numismatics capture the birth of a nation so directly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Uncirculated (UNC). A remarkable survivor from a chaotic era.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52110595195191,"sku":"GEN390756UNC","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/390756o.jpg?v=1780578193"}],"url":"https:\/\/worldmoneystore.com\/collections\/georgia.oembed","provider":"World Money Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}