THE EMISSION AND CIRCULATION GENESIS OF GEORGIAN MONEY

Georgia, as an independent country and plenipotentiary member of the world community of nations, appeared on the political map 18 years ago. But it doesn't mean that its state history is limited to this 18 years. Georgia has a history of many centuries (Three thousand year anniversary of Georgian state was officially celebrated in 2000). So long is the history of the emission and circulation of Georgian money as well. The first coin in Georgia was in VI century BC, large denomination of the so called “Colchis tetri” – Tetradrachma. It belongs to the number of rarest coins, whereas small denominations (Triobolis) are known thousands from the historical territories of Colchis, which mainly cover West Georgia. The emission of Georgian money lasted for centuries; however, circulated money of the territory of the country was not always original national currency. But as the foreign political pressure weakened, Georgian government immediately implemented its sovereign regalia – cut its own money. At the beginning of XIX century, after Georgia was converted within Russian Empire, with the loss of independence Georgia ceased the emission of the so called “Sirma abazi” the last Georgian money, which was very popular in the whole Caucasus. This was followed by the emission of Russian-Georgian coins in Tbilisi mint. In 1918-1921, there were produced Bonis of Transcaucasia Commissariat and Democratic Republic of Independent Georgia, and Georgian and Transcaucasia Federation Bonis as well, released after Soviet Russia annexed and occupied Georgia, in 1921-1924. On April 9, 1991 Georgian independence was announced. From April 5, 1993 to October 2, 1995 circulated Coupons of Georgian National Bank. On October 2, 1995, new Georgian National currency “Lari” was announced as a legal tax means on the whole territory of the country. It undergoes modification in order to be perfect: 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2016. The emission of Georgian money for National economic development is unequivocally determinant.