New money in Belarus (photo)

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

2016 was a real event in the history of the Belarusian economy. For the second time in the history of the country's independence, a denomination was announced, and, consequently, new money was put into circulation. In Belarus, which is already accustomed to living in a world of millionaires, such changes have created a real sensation. Even after six months after the announcement of the denomination, when the old money must finally be withdrawn from circulation, many continue to count as they have been accustomed to for many years. So, what are the new Belarusian money?

What has changed?

Let's start with the fact that samples of the new money of Belarus were developed long before they were put into circulation - the banknotes themselves were already printed in 2009 and locked in secure vaults. As part of the denomination, four zeros were cut off, that is, if in old banknotes the minimum denomination was one hundred rubles, now it is one kopeck.

For Belarusians who had not previously used coins, such innovations were not a very pleasant surprise: not only did they have to change wallets (because there were no special compartments in the old purses), but also vending machines, ATMs and other machines, who have taken beforeeven the smallest bills are not reconfigured for pennies. It is also worth noting that even the acquisition of new wallets did not help people adapt to new money, but more on that later.

Design

Yes, the new money in Belarus, unlike the old ones, is more reminiscent of European than Soviet. Moreover, denominated rubles (namely, this is how the new currency was called in the country at a time when it still coexisted with the old money) was even criticized for their excessive similarity to the euro.

A separate plus was that Belarus retained the concept of depicting historical buildings on new banknotes, however, now, with the reduction in the number of denominations of paper money, some sights had to be abandoned. Each region of the republic is immortalized on banknotes, and not only famous places were chosen as symbols, but also those whose image evokes positive associations among Belarusians.

Unaccepted projects

Of course, there were those who wanted to see completely different new money in Belarus. Photos of possible banknote options appeared on the Internet even a year before the denomination. Many proposed to place portraits of famous Belarusians on paper money, but they disagreed about who exactly deserves to represent the country on its banknotes: some turned to fighters for Belarusian statehood, others to rulers of different eras, and still others to scientists and artists.

Another interesting concept that never came to fruition is the use of imagesantique household items and jewelry that would remind people of their roots. The third option suggested reorienting the banknotes, that is, making them not as usual horizontal, but vertical, in the manner of Israeli or Swiss monetary units. The most radical of all proposed is the renaming of the currency into thaler, in the manner of the currency of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with the image on the banknotes of people who gave their lives for the sovereignty of the state.

Protection system

Before the release into circulation, no one could say what the new money would be in Belarus. It was known that new security technologies were used in their manufacture, which would make it almost impossible to counterfeit banknotes. The banknotes have special signs in the form of geometric shapes, by which visually impaired people can recognize the denominations. In addition, a special method of strengthening the corners was used, thanks to which the banknotes will be more resistant to abrasion, which could not be said about the money of the old sample. Another difference is the change in the pattern: not abstract patterns are visible in the light, but the building depicted on the banknote. From the traditional, the following has been preserved in the way the new money of Belarus looks like: firmware with a special tape with an embossed abbreviation NBRB (National Bank of the Republic of Belarus). This is also aimed at improving the counterfeit protection of the banknote.

Coins

But the most anticipated and anticipated new money in Belarus is coins. Eight denominations were issued - 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 kopecks, 1and 2 rubles. Coins can be divided into three groups: red (the smallest, the ornament applied to them is a sign of we alth and prosperity), yellow (10-50 kopecks with an ornament symbolizing vitality) and silver (to be more precise, the ruble coin is completely silver, and two-ruble - silver with a wide gold edging; applied ornaments denote freedom and will).

At the same time, despite the originality and unusualness, already today, six months after the introduction of new coins, it is difficult to say what these samples of new money of Belarus will look like in five to ten years. The fact is that coins of small denominations are made so unsuccessfully that it is difficult to see what is written on them even for a young person, not like for someone who does not see well. In addition, denominations wear out very quickly, and small coins themselves corrode. As for the two-ruble coins, which the republic is so proud of, it turned out that with the application of not very strong force, the coin easily breaks into two components - all this clearly does not contribute to the popularization of new money among the population.

Consequences

Yes, the time has already passed when people wondered what the new money would be in Belarus. Photos of price tags that did not contain the usual zeros, incomprehensible at first recalculations between old and new money, which baffled even those who are good with mathematics - all this has already subsided.

From January 1, 2017, in half a yearafter the official introduction of the 2009 banknotes into circulation (which is why the adjective “new” sounds so paradoxical next to them), the use of old money stops and their withdrawal begins. The population is given another five years to completely get rid of obsolete monetary units and finally get used to how the new money of Belarus looks.

Attempts to understand

What changed when new money appeared in Belarus? Photos of banknotes immediately after the denomination flooded the Internet, for which a flurry of jokes hit the country about the long-forgotten banknotes with images of animals, popularly called "bunnies" (they were in use in the mid-nineties).

Has the financial well-being of the population changed? No, on the contrary, from a country of millionaires, Belarus has turned into a country where a person can receive the entire salary in several bills.

When there was talk about what new money would be in Belarus, the photo of the banknote, the denomination of which is equivalent to 50 dollars, was surprising, let alone the banknotes equal to 100 and 250 dollars (however, it should be noted that the latter are not available the general population). For people who are used to the fact that “two rubles” (namely, that’s what they used to call 2,000 old rubles) is a tenth of a dollar, now the stable “dollar - two rubles” sounds a bit even encouraging. In addition, due to the confusion with prices (especially during the period when it was possible to pay and receive change with both new and old money), the state was able toincrease imperceptibly to the public. It is easier to say that the new money in Belarus, despite the fact that it pleased the eye, brought more difficulties and problems. And perhaps this is all a temporary phenomenon that will disappear when the state finally gets rid of old money in its mind.

P. S

Today we already know the answer to the question of what new money will be in Belarus. It remains only to understand whether they will bring the country the very benefit that those who issued them stood up for.