Catalog
10 Apsars D.J. Gulia
| Issuer | Bank of Abkhazia |
|---|---|
| Year | 2009 |
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| Thickness | 3.3 mm |
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| Obverse description | At center on a polished field, the State Emblem of the Republic of Abkhazia is rendered in relief, with the Abkhazian inscription "АҦСНЫ АБАНК" (Bank of Abkhazia) positioned beneath it. A semicircular legend above the emblem reads "10 ҦСАРК" (10 Apsars), indicating the denomination. Along the left rim, the metal designation, fineness, and fine metal content are inscribed in accordance with the Mendeleev Periodic Table notation (Ag 925 1OZ), while the Moscow Mint trademark appears to the right. The lower portion of the coin features a matted field bearing a five-line inscription including "АҦСНЫ АБАНК" and the year of issue 2009. |
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| Reverse description | The reverse bears a portrait of Dmitry Iosifovich Gulia (1874–1960), founder of Abkhazian literature, depicted in a formal bust facing three-quarters left. To the left of the portrait, elements of the first Abkhazian alphabet are depicted as a decorative motif. Below the portrait, the dates "1874" and "1960" appear on two lines, and beneath these, the legend in Abkhazian script reads "ДЫРМИТ ГӘЛИА" (Dirmit Gulia), identifying the subject. |
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| Additional information |
Abkhazia's apsar coinage occupies a peculiar corner of numismatics: issued by a central bank of a state recognized by only a handful of UN members, these pieces function more as collector vehicles than circulating currency. The Bank of Abkhazia began issuing commemorative silver apsars in the mid-2000s, and the series targeting cultural figures like the poet and scholar Dzambul Gulia reflects a deliberate effort at national identity-building through coinage — an ambition that outpaces the territory's formal international standing.
Gulia (1874–1960) is considered the father of Abkhazian literature, having produced the first works of prose and poetry in the written Abkhaz language.