Krunk's Fiat Museum: Currency Of Belarus: The "First Rouble", 1992–2000

in LeoFinance • 4 years ago (edited)

I recently posted an introduction to the 'Fiat Museum', my coin and note collection which I intend to exhibit on the blockchain. The collection covers a substantially vast range of countries and periods and I wasn't sure where to start. I fished for suggestions amongst the comments and @camuel, an old friend who knows of my travels, got back suggesting I start with Belarus (Belorussia).

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Historical Background:

I travelled through Belarus in the summer of 1994 (you can read my diary account here) on a backpacking adventure through North-East Europe. I only spent a few days there, stopping off in a couple of cities along the way. The country had started to open up but had not yet been penetrated by globalism and the unfree 'free market'.

Having spent the earlier part of the summer working in Germany, I was carrying Deutsche Marks (Germany's currency before the Euro; at the time £1 = 2.5DM). In Belarus, the exchange rate at the time was 1DM = 1700 Belarussian roubles. The roubles were all paper - coins were not issued until 2016 - and there was even a 1 Rouble note.

The banknotes on display here are from the 'First Ruble' - the first time that the Belarus government started printing its own national currency, breaking away from the Russian rouble which had circulated until then. Things were cheap and I was able to get an example of every available banknote, apart from the 5000, to add to my collection.

Exhibits:

There are 10 different notes in this collection. Of interest is the fact that all the notes are of the same size (10.5 cm x 5.5cm) and quality of texture. Additionally, some of the notes - such as the 3 and 25 roubles, have unusual denominations rarely encountered elsewhere in the world. One side of the notes up to the value of 100 roubles have images of animals, which I really like.

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1 rouble & 3 rouble notes; front & back

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5 rouble & 10 rouble notes; front & back

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25 rouble & 50 rouble notes; front & back

100200.jpg
100 rouble & 200 rouble notes; front & back

5001000.jpg
500 rouble & 1000 rouble notes; front & back

Thanks for reading 🙏




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4 years ago in LeoFinance by
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     4 years ago  

    Thanks for sharing, I like those notes better than a bunch of dead people, and it's nice to have more denominations too. I wonder how long until the war on cash is finished here in the U.S. I won't do business with a local place that doesn't accept cash anymore.

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     4 years ago  

    👍😎

    I always use cash too. Most local businesses around here are either closed (atm or for good) or are the type I no longer go to (restaurants, pubs). I'm still going to supermarkets maskless and I pay in cash.

    US and UK will be/are at the forefront of war on cash, emboldened even more by ongoing oc-cult coups in each country.

    I feel fortunate to have discovered crypto and the blockchain :D

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     4 years ago  

    That's some collection, looking forward to see more of your collections of other countries. I had some Saudi and Kuwaiti notes and coins from late 60's and early to mid 70's (My father spent some time in these countries), unfortunately, those were lost during the shifting to new house during 90's.

    I agree, I haven't heard 3 and 25 notes up until reading this post.

    What is the significance of using the images of animals on the notes, normally, countries use their famous people, buildings and places?

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     4 years ago  

    Thanks Mobi :), shame about the Saudi/Kuwaiti currency getting lost.

    I didn't know the answer to your question so I had a look online but couldn't find anything specifically about why images of animals were chosen. I know that this was the first time the Belarus National Bank had printed its own currency and was separating itself from the Russian rouble, so perhaps they chose neutral images so as not to ruffle their Eastern Big Brother's feathers......just speculation on my part.

    Below is some info I found here:

    1992-1999

    After the collapse of the Soviet Union which subsequently saw Belarus gain its independence, banknotes of the State Bank of the USSR were in circulation in The Republic of Belarus for some time and this was then followed by banknotes issued by the Bank of Russia. May 1992, is the year the first Belarusian ruble was printed, because up until this point Belarus did not have a license or in fact the capacity to be able to print Soviet Union banknotes. During this time, there was a demand from the former Soviet enterprises that goods were to be bought and sold on the market, which often required cash settlement, and it was at this point that the Belarusian government came to an agreement to introduce their own national currency in an effort to ease up the situation with cash, by using it as a supplement with the Soviet ruble and the Russian ruble and as a result 1, 3, 5,10, 25,50 and 100 rublei denominations were established, this was followed by the addition of 200 and 500 rublei in the same year, 1,000 rublei in 1993, 5,000 and 20,000 rublei in 1994, 50,000 rublei in 1995 ,100,000 rublei in 1996, 500,000 rublei in 1998, 1,000,000 and 5,000,000 rublei in 1999.

    The introduction of the higher denominations was due to inflation, which happened fairly quickly. The first set of banknotes that were printed had an animal theme, which included a hare, a beaver, a squirrel, wolves, a lynx, an elk, a bear and a bison; which was deemed to be a symbol of Belarus. When the 200 and 500 rublei were printed, the theme changed to famous landmarks, monuments and buildings in Belarus.

    The Belarusian ruble did eventually replace the Soviet and the Russian ruble, although it did take two years and various developments before it was declared as the official currency of The Republic of Belarus, in May 1994.

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts.

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       4 years ago  

      That's some interesting information. Thanks for searching for it ans sharing it with us.

      After reading these higher denominations the first currency came to my mind was Afghani currency which also had these type of higher denominations, don't know the current situation, though, would have to see on the net.

      Once again, it was interesting reading the information you shared, both in the post and in the comment.

      Have a nice and safe day.

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       4 years ago  

      Very well presented :)

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       4 years ago  

      Cheers Katy.... same sized banknotes so very easy to just setup tripod and light and then go click-turn-click-replace :D

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