Lari (Georgia)
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The lari (Georgian: ლარი ; ISO 4217:GEL) is the currency of Georgia. It is divided into 100 tetri. The name lari is an old Georgian word denoting a hoard, property, while tetri is an old Georgian monetary term used from the thirteenth century.

For earlier Georgian currency, see maneti and abazi.

Kupon lari

Georgia replaced the Russian ruble on 5 April 1993 with kupon lari at par.^[1] This currency consisted only of banknotes, had no subdivisions and suffered from hyperinflation. Notes were issued in denominations between 1 and 1 million lari, including the somewhat unusual 3, 3000, 30,000 and 150,000 lari.

Lari

On October 2, 1995,^[2] the government of Eduard Shevardnadze replaced the provisional coupon currency with the lari, at a rate of one million to one. It has remained fairly stable since then.

Coins

Coins are issued in denominations of 1 tetri, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 tetri, 1 lari and 2 lari.

Image		Value	Technical parameters			Description			Date of			Remark
obverse	reverse		diameter × thickness	mass	composition	obverse	reverse	edge	first minting	issue	withdrawal
		1 tetri	15.0 mm × 1.25 mm	1.38 g	Stainless steel.	The Borjgali (a Georgian symbol of the Sun with seven rotating wings) over the Christian Tree of Life, and the date of mintage, “1993”, with Georgian and English marginal legends on it, “საქართველოს რესპუბლიკა” and “REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA”.	The denomination numeral "1" on the upper part of the coin, with the legend “თეთრი” (tetri) and the vine tendril underneath.	Smooth.	1993	1993	—	The edge of the reverse of the coin is circled with the plant ornament.
		2 tetri	17.5 mm × 1.25 mm	1.90 g			The peacock with spread wings on the upper part of the coin, with the legend “თეთრი” (tetri) and denomination numeral “2” underneath.		1993	1993	—
		5 tetri	20.0 mm × 1.32 mm	2.50 g			The golden statue of the lion from the 3rd millennium B.C. barrow of the Alazani valley, with the denomination numeral “5”, and the legend “თეთრი” (tetri) underneath.		1993	1993	—
		10 tetri	22.0 mm × 1.27 mm	3.00 g			Saint George riding the lion, 11th century silver plate gilded with gold from the Gelati Monastery. The denomination numeral “10” on the right hand of the coin, and the legend “თეთრი” (tetri) underneath.		1993	1993	—
		20 tetri	25.0 mm × 1.62 mm	5.00 g			The stag (adult male deer) from the painting of Niko Pirosmanashvili (Pirosmani), famous Georgian painter, with the denomination numeral “20” on the left-hand side, and the legend “თეთრი” (tetri) underneath.		1993	1993	—
		50 tetri	19.0 mm × 1.40 mm	2.50 g	Brass plated steel.		The relief of the Gryphon from the eastern facade of 11th century Samtavisi Cathedral, with the denomination numeral “50”, and legend “თეთრი” (tetri) underneath.		1993	1993	—
		50 tetri	24.0 mm × unknown thickness	6.50 g	Copper-nickel.	The coat of arms of Georgia, surrounded with a symbolic image of Sun beams, the legends “საქართველო”, and the date of isue “2006” under the coat of arms.	The denomination numeral “50”, and the legend “თეთრი” (tetri).	Milled. Bears a bilingual legend “საქართველო” and “Georgia”, with five-pointed stars in between.	2006	2006	—	The edge of the reverse of the coin is circled with dots.
		1 lari	26.2 mm × unknown thickness	7.80 g	Copper-nickel alloy (silver color)	Half-milled. The coat of arms of Georgia, the legend “საქართველო” on the upper left side, and the date of issue “2006” on the lower right side.	Half-milled. Denomination numeral “1” and legend “ლარი” (lari).		2006	2006	—	Both sides of the coin have a microelement, a lion head (analog of the old Colchian Tetri coin).
		2 lari	27.0 mm × unknown thickness	8.00 g	Inner ring: copper-aluminum-nickel alloy (gold color). Outer ring: copper-nickel alloy (silver color).	The coat of arms of Georgia, the rim with a circular legend “საქართველო”, and the date of issue “2006”.	Denomination numeral “2” and legend “ლარი” (lari). The silver-color milled surface has an original design, representing a central symbolic image of sun rays.		2006	2006	—
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre, a Wikipedia standard for world coins. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Banknotes

Image		Value	Dimensions	Main colour	Description			Date of			Remark
obverse	reverse				obverse	reverse	watermark	printing	issue	withdrawal
		1 GEL	115 × 61 mm		Portrait of Niko Pirosmanashvili (Pirosmani), famous Georgian artist with the legend „Pirosmani 1862-1918".	Panorama of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and an image of a stag from Pirosmani's painting.			2002		coins minted since 2006
		2 GEL	115 × 61 mm		Portrait of Georgian composer Zakaria Paliashvili and legend "Zakaria Paliashvili 1871 - 1933" . The left side features the overture notes of his opera "Abesalom and Eteri"	Building of Tbilisi Zakaria Paliashvili opera and ballet state theatre with the legend „Tbilisi National Opera and Ballet Theatre 1887".			2002		coins minted since 2006
		5 GEL	115 × 61 mm		Portarait of Ivane Javakhishvili, a Georgian academician, with legend "Ivane Javakhishvili 1876-1940"	Building of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and an open book and a plant ornament underneath			2002
		10 GEL	125 × 63 mm		Portrait of Akaki Tsereteli, a famous Georgian poet and public figure, with the legend „Akaki Tsereteli 1840 - 1915", a swallow and blossoming branch	Portrait of mother from Georgian artist David Kakabadze's painting "Imereti - Mother of Mine" and vine tendril			2002
		20 GEL	131 × 65 mm		Portrait of Ilia Chavchavadze, a public figure, with the legend „Ilia Chavchavadze 1837 - 1907, the magazines „Sakartvelos Moambe" and „Iveria", founded by him and his personal belongings	Sculpture of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, founder of Tbilisi, the map of Tbilisi in the 18th century (prepared by Vakhushti Bagrationi) and a panorama of old Tbilisi - a composition of old Narikala			2002
		50 GEL	135 × 66 mm		Portrait of Queen Tamar, XII c., the image of the animal with wings is on the left hand side of the banknote	Astrological sign of "Sagittarius" from the Georgian miniature manuscript of the XII century			2004
		100 GEL	140 × 67 mm		Shota Rustaveli graphic portrait and the legend "Shota Rustaveli XII c". The composition of angels raising the cross is depicted on the left side of the banknote	A composition from the Biblical story "Daniel in the den of lions" from the Martvili monastery relief, and the legend "Martvili VIIc."			2004
		200 GEL	146 × 72 mm		Portrait of Kakutsa Cholokashvili. The background of the banknote is enhanced with fragments of relief images of Georgian Cultural Artifacts.	City of Sukhumi and relief fragments of the iconostasis found in the village Tsebelda of Gulripsh district.			2007
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimetre, a Wikipedia standard for world banknotes. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

See also

• Economy of Georgia (country)

References

External links

• Lari banknotes, National Bank of Georgia
• Lari coins, National Bank of Georgia
• Jubilee and commemorative coins, National Bank of Georgia
• New 50 tetri, 1 and 2 lari issued in 2006
• Coins of former Soviet republics