1382) Transnistria (or the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic): 25th Anniversary of the Trans-Dniester Ruble: A One Ruble Commemorative Banknote by the Trans-Dniester Republican Bank celeberating the milestone: Year of Banknote issue: 2019:
Transnistria (or the Pridnestrovia Moldavian Republic) is a breakaway state in the narrow strip of land between the River Dniester and the Ukraine border that is internationally recognised as part of Moldova. It has been recognised only by three other mostly non-recognised states - Ankhazia, Artsakh and South Ossetia. Transnistria is home to about 500,000 people.
It declared its independence from Moldova in 1990 and fought a war two years later.
Transnistria is designated by the Republic of Moldova as the "Transnistria Autonomous Territorial Unit" with a special legal status, with its capital named Tiraspol.
After the dissolution of the USSR, tensions between Moldova and the breakaway Transnistrian territory escalated into a military conflict in 03/1992, which ended in a cease-fire and concluded by a tri-partite agreement in 07/1992.
As per the Agreement - between Russia, Moldova and Transnistria - a Joint Control Commission supervises the security arrangements in the demilitarised zone comprising 20 localities on both sides of the river.
Although the cease-fire has held, the territory's political status remains unresolved. Transnistria is an unrecognised but de facto independent semi-independent Republic with its own Government, Parliament, standing army, police, postal system, currency and vehicle registration et al. It has a Constitution, Flag, National Anthem and Coat of Arms.
It is the only country still using the "hammer and sickle" on its Flag, despite not being a Socialist State. An enormous statue of Lenin stands at the entrance to the Supreme Soviet (the Transnistrian Parliament).
It is the only country still using the "hammer and sickle" on its Flag, despite not being a Socialist State. An enormous statue of Lenin stands at the entrance to the Supreme Soviet (the Transnistrian Parliament).
In 2005, an Agreement was concluded between Moldova and Ukraine, which requires all Transnistrian companies which seek to export goods through the Ukrainian border to be compulsorily registered with Moldovan authorities. This Agreement was implemented after the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) took force in the same year.
Most Transnistrians also have Moldovan citizenship, although many also have Russian and Ukrainian citizenship. The main ethnic groups are roughly Russians (34%), Moldovans (34%), Ukrainians (29%) and Bulgarians (3%).
Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Artsakh are post-Soviet "frozen conflict" zones, which maintain friendly relations with one another and form the - "Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations".
The citizens of Transnistria cling tenaciously to a claim for statehood and their love for all things Russian. To all outwardly appearances, Transnistria is a sovereign state. In return, Russia provides free gas and supplements the resident's pensions. Russia also provides more than 1,000 troops. All this, although Russia does not formally recognise it.
The Currency of Transnistria:
The Ruble is the currency of Transnistria, sub-divided into 100 Kopeks.
The Transnistrian Ruble is generally not accepted as currency outside of Transnistria, though some Bus Companies with connections to Tiraspol accept Transnistrian Rubles at the Chisinau Bus station, as well as, local shops in Varnita.
The First Series of Ruble Banknotes (1994):
Soviet Banknotes were used in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic after its formation in 1990.
In 07/1993, Goznak-printed Soviet and Russian Banknotes dated 1961-1962 were circulated , modified by applying adhesive stamps bearing the image of General Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, founder of Tiraspol (the capital city) and its corresponding denomination.
These stamped Banknotes replaced unstamped Soviet and Russian Banknotes at par.
The Second Series of Ruble Banknotes (1994-2000):
The first provisional Banknotes were replaced in 08/1994 by a new Transnistrian Ruble, equal to 1,000 old Rubles. This was necessitated, as the country was undergoing a high incidence of inflation, necessitating the issue of Banknotes over-stamped with higher denominations. Although issued in 1994, some Banknotes (50 to 5,000 Rubles) were issued with the date as 1993.
The denominations contained in this issue were - 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000 and 500,000 Rubles.
The third Series of Ruble Banknotes (2000 to present):
In 2000, a new Ruble was introduced at the exchange rate of 1 new Ruble to 1,000,000 old Rubles (one million). This new currency consists of both Banknotes and Coins.
The Banknote denominations included in this issue are - 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Rubles.
The Fourth Series of Ruble Banknotes (2007 onwards):
In 2007, a new Series of Banknotes replaced the Banknotes of the denominations from 1 to 100 Ruble, with the denominations including - 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 Rubles.
The Coins of the Third Ruble (2000 onwards):
The Coins of the Transnistrian Ruble consist of the following denominations - 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, Kopek and 1, 3, 5, 10 Rubles.
Coins of the denominations of 1 to 50 Kopeks are made of Aluminium or Copper-zinc and are similar to Soviet era coinage. The 1 Kopek Coins were withdrawn from circulation in 01/2009.
On 22.08.2014, the Transnistrian Republican Bank issued coins made of composite materials in the denominations of 1, 3, 5 and 10 Rubles.
A Commemorative Banknote issued by the Trans-Dniester Republican Bank celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Trans-Dniester Ruble:
On 20.12.2019, the Trans-Dniester Republican Bank introduced a new 1 Ruble Banknote to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Trans-Dniester Ruble.
The Front of the 1 Ruble Commemorative Banknote depicts an image of the great Russian Commander General Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, founder of the capital Tiraspol.
The Back of the 1 Ruble Banknote shows an image of Transnistrian Supreme Soviet, the Parliament. The Serial number of this Banknote is HB - 1140873.
The above is the image of a circulation Banknote.
200,000 Banknotes were issued into circulation with the serial numbers - HB 10002501 to HB 1200000 - and 2,500 as Collector's items, packaged in Booklets, with the Serial no. HB 1000001 to HB 1002500 - were brought out.
The Cover of the Booklet showing the numeral "25".
The inner pages contain the Front of the Collector 1 Ruble Banknote is placed in a protective cover and has a description of the commemorative issue and General Alexander Suvarov.
The inner pages containing the Back of the Collector 1 Ruble Banknote together with a detailed description. The Serial No. of this Collector Banknote is HB - 1002289.
(The above Collector's Commemorative Banknote is from the collection of my friend Jayant Biswas, who has sent me the scans for this Banknote.)
4) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Kholmogory post road (Arkhangelsk - Vologda - Yaroclavi - Moscow), Russia: Europa 2020 theme: A stamp brought out by "Pochta Rossii"(Russian Post) featuring this important post road: Date of Stamp issue: 15.01.2020
5) Transnistria (or the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic): 25th Anniversary of the Trans-Dniester Ruble: A One Ruble Commemorative Banknote issued by the Trans-Dniester Republican Bank celebrating the milestone: Year of Banknote issue: 2019:
6) Russia Celebrates the "Return" of Crimea to Russia in 2014, by issuing a circulation 5 Ruble Coin in 2019
The Currency of Transnistria:
The Ruble is the currency of Transnistria, sub-divided into 100 Kopeks.
The Transnistrian Ruble is generally not accepted as currency outside of Transnistria, though some Bus Companies with connections to Tiraspol accept Transnistrian Rubles at the Chisinau Bus station, as well as, local shops in Varnita.
The First Series of Ruble Banknotes (1994):
Soviet Banknotes were used in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic after its formation in 1990.
In 07/1993, Goznak-printed Soviet and Russian Banknotes dated 1961-1962 were circulated , modified by applying adhesive stamps bearing the image of General Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, founder of Tiraspol (the capital city) and its corresponding denomination.
These stamped Banknotes replaced unstamped Soviet and Russian Banknotes at par.
The Second Series of Ruble Banknotes (1994-2000):
The first provisional Banknotes were replaced in 08/1994 by a new Transnistrian Ruble, equal to 1,000 old Rubles. This was necessitated, as the country was undergoing a high incidence of inflation, necessitating the issue of Banknotes over-stamped with higher denominations. Although issued in 1994, some Banknotes (50 to 5,000 Rubles) were issued with the date as 1993.
The denominations contained in this issue were - 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000 and 500,000 Rubles.
The third Series of Ruble Banknotes (2000 to present):
In 2000, a new Ruble was introduced at the exchange rate of 1 new Ruble to 1,000,000 old Rubles (one million). This new currency consists of both Banknotes and Coins.
The Banknote denominations included in this issue are - 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Rubles.
The Fourth Series of Ruble Banknotes (2007 onwards):
In 2007, a new Series of Banknotes replaced the Banknotes of the denominations from 1 to 100 Ruble, with the denominations including - 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 Rubles.
The Coins of the Third Ruble (2000 onwards):
The Coins of the Transnistrian Ruble consist of the following denominations - 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, Kopek and 1, 3, 5, 10 Rubles.
Coins of the denominations of 1 to 50 Kopeks are made of Aluminium or Copper-zinc and are similar to Soviet era coinage. The 1 Kopek Coins were withdrawn from circulation in 01/2009.
On 22.08.2014, the Transnistrian Republican Bank issued coins made of composite materials in the denominations of 1, 3, 5 and 10 Rubles.
A Commemorative Banknote issued by the Trans-Dniester Republican Bank celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Trans-Dniester Ruble:
On 20.12.2019, the Trans-Dniester Republican Bank introduced a new 1 Ruble Banknote to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Trans-Dniester Ruble.
The above is the image of a circulation Banknote.
200,000 Banknotes were issued into circulation with the serial numbers - HB 10002501 to HB 1200000 - and 2,500 as Collector's items, packaged in Booklets, with the Serial no. HB 1000001 to HB 1002500 - were brought out.
(The above Collector's Commemorative Banknote is from the collection of my friend Jayant Biswas, who has sent me the scans for this Banknote.)
Links to posts on Russian & other countries - Coins, Banknotes and Stamps:
4) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Kholmogory post road (Arkhangelsk - Vologda - Yaroclavi - Moscow), Russia: Europa 2020 theme: A stamp brought out by "Pochta Rossii"(Russian Post) featuring this important post road: Date of Stamp issue: 15.01.2020
5) Transnistria (or the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic): 25th Anniversary of the Trans-Dniester Ruble: A One Ruble Commemorative Banknote issued by the Trans-Dniester Republican Bank celebrating the milestone: Year of Banknote issue: 2019:
6) Russia Celebrates the "Return" of Crimea to Russia in 2014, by issuing a circulation 5 Ruble Coin in 2019
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"GOOD information".
Thank you so much Khanna sahab.
DeleteRam Lalingkar has commented:
ReplyDelete"First time I am hearing the name of this country."
Even I heard of it for the first time, Rambhau, when my friend Jayant sent me the scans of the banknote in his collection.
DeleteRajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Addition to the my knowledge abt the existence of this country with minutely details."
Even I heard of it yesterday only and researched the detail, Trikha sahab. A sample of the citizens was interviewed by a British correspondent who has a Russian wife.
DeleteGirish Kumar Bhumri has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for adding to our G.K."
Thank you for visiting the post. This is the first time that I have heard of this country. Thought I would share.
DeleteVinod Khurana has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very informative article about places, the world doesn't know."
Thank you, Vinodji. It is indeed a very obscure country. My friend who collects notes and coins from unusual places sent me the scans, which got me interested.
DeleteVinod Khurana has further commented:
Delete"Yes a population of just half a million, equal to some of our towns/cities, is naturally a very small country, which has not been taken over by others and is surviving. Salute to her spirit."
Most of these comments are circa 2020. I'll add my comment that I also had not heard of this country prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. I've searched for articles a few times after seeing it mentioned in news accounts of the war. This is also what prompted me to read your account of its currency.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting this post, Jimbro. It is true, that not many persons have heard of this country, prior to the Ukraine-Russia War. I too got introduced to Transnistria, when my friend Jayant gave me this Banknote to write about on my Blog. I even checked up its location on the map & found that I had discovered a "new" country.
Delete