Coin value and description:

Belarusian ruble

Belarusian ruble

The issuer of the Belarusian ruble is the Republic of Belarus. Nowadays, coins and banknotes are used for payments, although previously the monetary unit was not fractional. One Belarusian ruble includes 100 kopecks. The currency was introduced on May 25, 1992. Before this, the USSR ruble, as well as the Russian ruble, were in circulation in the country. Note that during its existence, the official monetary unit of Belarus changed the ISO code three times. The issuing center for the production of official banknotes is the National Bank.

Where did the name “ruble” come from?

In the early nineties, the country decided to abandon the official currency that was used in the Soviet Union. It was to be replaced by the thaler, which was proposed by many public figures. But the Supreme Council approved the Belarusian ruble as the final monetary unit. The word itself comes from the verb “to chop.” In ancient times, on the territory of ancient Russian states and principalities, the hryvnia was in use, which was cut into 4 parts to get smaller change money. The fourth part of the hryvnia was called the ruble.

Brief historical background

In the early nineties, the Soviet monetary system collapsed. In this regard, Belarus first introduced coupons and then payment tickets. It was for them that the citizens of the country exchanged Soviet rubles at a rate of ten to one. The withdrawal of USSR monetary units from circulation began in the summer of 1993. As a result, the Belarusian ruble was recognized as the only means of payment in the country.

Interesting facts:

• The five-hundred-ruble bill, designed in 1992, was bilingual. Some of the inscriptions are made in the Belarusian language, and on the reverse side the designers placed a Russian-language phrase that read “The feat of the people is immortal.” Below it was a drawing of Victory Square in the Belarusian capital. This bill is a valuable item in ballistics collections.
• The Mir Castle was honored to appear on the fifty thousandth banknote. It was released in the spring of 2003 in honor of the fact that UNESCO included the architectural monument on its list.

• Belarusians use the word “bunny” in everyday life, denoting the country’s banknote, since the image of this animal was printed on the ruble banknote of the 1992 model.
• Due to the fact that large denomination bills from 10 to 100 thousand rubles were used in the country, there was a joke in the CIS countries about “Belarusian millionaires”.
• In honor of the beginning of the third millennium, banknotes with the appropriate design appeared in Belarus. They were designed accordingly. Shades of red were chosen as the main color. The circulation of commemorative banknotes was only 2.5 thousand copies.

• Since the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, denomination has been carried out in the country three times. The first took place in 1994, after which the denomination was changed 6 years later. Further, the need for such a procedure appeared only in 2016.
• Since the beginning of 2009, the country’s financial regulator decided to link the exchange rate of Belarusian money to a basket of foreign currencies. At the same time, the country’s official currency was devalued by 20.5 percent against the dollar.
• In the current economic situation, Belarusian money is becoming a full-fledged investment object.
• The first major inflation took place at the beginning of 2009, and amounted to six and a half percent. In 2011, it reached impressive proportions - 108.7%.
• In January March 2010, Belarusian business entities bought more than one and a half billion US dollars.
• From the very beginning of Alexander Lukashenko’s presidency, negotiations were held with the Russian Federation regarding the creation of a single currency for payments between states.
• The country's gold and foreign exchange reserves are steadily growing. Now they are valued at 5 and a half billion dollars, but 74% of the country's gold and foreign exchange reserves are debt to financial institutions under swap transactions.
• In the summer of 2016, a booklet was released with banknotes of all denominations (one thousand copies), which differed in serial numbers. Images of commemorative banknotes have a patriotic focus.
• The ten-ruble banknote, designed in 2000, depicts a building labeled as the National Library, but since 2006 it no longer houses book collections.

• Since the end of 1996, commemorative coins have also been issued in the country.
• Modern Belarusian banknotes are very similar to the euro.

• The design of the coins is almost the same. On the obverse you can see the country’s coat of arms, the date of issue of the coin, as well as the word “Belarus”. The reverse contains information about the denomination of the banknote, as well as decorations in the form of interesting ornaments.

• Belarus does not have its own Mint, so the coinage of the monetary unit is carried out abroad.
• Since the beginning of 2016, the refinancing rate has been 25%.
• Now the common people call Belarusian money squirrels
• The first coins in Belarus appeared on July 1, 2016; previously the monetary unit was indivisible.
• The smallest coin in Belarus is the kopeck, its diameter is only 15 mm.
• The largest coin in Belarus is a two-ruble coin, its diameter is 23.5 millimeters. It is also the heaviest (weighs almost 6 grams).

• For the production of banknotes, steel, brass, copper, and also a copper-nickel alloy are used. The two-ruble coin consists of a ring, which is made of steel and brass, as well as a center, which is an alloy of steel, copper and nickel.
• A 5,000 Belarusian ruble banknote, which was printed in 2000, was sold at auction for $2,000.
• The 1992 banknotes feature a hare from a 1957 book entitled “Beasts and Birds of Our Country.”

Life without millions: how the denomination went

In the summer of 2016, the official banknote in Belarus was denominated. As a result, the rubles lost the last four zeros. The need for denomination arose in conditions of severe inflation. After a certain number of zeros were removed from banknotes, calculations became much simpler. For example, if previously something was sold for 50,000 Belarusian rubles, now the price has become 50 Belarusian rubles. rub. From July 1, 2016, the denomination ratio of 1 to 10,000 applies to services, goods, scholarships, pensions, salaries and much more.

In this regard, a logical question arose about how the Belarusian ruble will be equated to the Russian ruble, as well as to the hryvnia, dollar, and euro. At the beginning of 2017, there were approximately 50 eurocents for every Belarusian ruble. It is also worth saying that the American currency exchange rate is 1 USD = 1,892 BYN. After adjusting the denominations, 8 coins and 7 new banknotes were put into circulation.

Now Belarusians can use old and new banknotes, since the withdrawal of banknotes of the previous type from circulation is planned to be carried out gradually until the end of 2021 inclusive. Also, residents of the country can contact any bank to exchange old banknotes and coins for new ones. There are no restrictions on amounts, and no commission will be charged during the exchange. Considering that the old money will soon be taken out of circulation, collectors have already become interested in how much a Belarusian ruble with four zeros is worth if it is saved and sold over time.

On July 1, 2016, citizens of the Republic will hold new banknotes and coins for the first time. So far we have only seen sketches on screens, but some idea is already taking shape.

Banknotes of seven denominations will appear in circulation: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 rubles, and eight coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 kopecks, 1 and 2 rubles.

The size of the banknotes is not too different from those we have become accustomed to since 2000 - 150x74 mm. The semantic content, in general, is the same: architecture, national patterns, but the design has become more “European”. This is understandable - the manufacturer of banknotes that won the National Bank's competition is located in Europe (where exactly has not yet been reported).

It also follows from the statement that there are no plans to create its own mint in Belarus; production is too expensive and clearly not profitable for a small state. By the way, from the same source we managed to find out that the production of one banknote or coin ranges from 1 to 4 euro cents, i.e. 1 kopeck coins, at the current exchange rate, are almost half the cost.

It should be noted that both coins and banknotes were printed back in 2009, as evidenced by the signature of the then head of the National Bank P. P. Prokopovich, and the old spelling of the word “pyatsdzyasyat”, instead of “pyatsdzyasyat”, as follows from the current spelling rules. They promise to eliminate the discrepancies during the production of the next batches of banknotes.

The money printed in 2009 could have been put into circulation earlier, but this was prevented by the global economic crisis and the excessive growth in the Belarusian economy in subsequent years. It is also good that the costs of producing money have already been incurred, although there remain costs for carrying out exchanges, changes in accounting, reconfiguring ATMs and other equipment.

By the way, the question of the future operation of ATMs (especially during the transition period) remains open: only with new money or in parallel with old money? with or without coins?

Returning to the design of the new money, we note that the images on seven bills are correct, i.e. alphabetically, distributed between regions: five-ruble coins are dedicated to the Brest region; ten-ruble - Vitebsk; twenty - Gomel; a banknote of fifty rubles - Grodno; hundred-ruble - Minsk; two hundred rubles - Mogilev region; and the largest one, worth five hundred rubles, goes to the city of Minsk.

The reverse side of the banknotes is filled with historical and cultural symbols, without any obvious connection to the geography of the country and the image on the front side.

The design of the coins may be reminiscent of the metal money of the Soviet period, and the two-ruble coin is composed of two metals of different colors, like the euro.

All coins have the coat of arms of the Republic on the obverse and national symbols on the reverse. All banknotes indicate the year of issue 2009.

Not much information has appeared about the new money, but something can be seen now:

The largest banknote is 500 rubles(5 million in today's money).

On the front side: National Library, Prokopovich’s signature, year of issue, denomination of the banknote in numbers and words, a straight cross in the lower left corner, above it a rectangular sign similar to a door, on the right - the inscription “RB”, translucent images along the entire side and a metal strip for better protection against counterfeiting.

On the reverse side there is the denomination in numbers, the serial number of the bill in two places, and a composition on the theme of literature: a quill pen, an inkwell, a book, as well as a flower and a fern branch. Probably, not all the symbols on the new banknotes will be clear to the average person, but they are certainly not accidental.

200 rubles- the general structure of the front and back sides remains the same, the color scheme shifts towards purple. On the front side is the Mogilev Regional Art Museum named after P.V. Maslennikov, in the lower left corner, instead of a straight one, there is an oblique cross, above it is an image of a rectangle, similar to a door.

On the reverse side there is a collage on the theme of urban planning and crafts: the seal of Mogilev and the golden key, tiles, forged lattice, images of houses.

100 ruble bill: Radziwill Castle in Nesvizh, in the corner instead of a cross there is a rhombus, above it there is a rectangle.

On the back are musical instruments, Slutsk belts, the Batleyka puppet theater, a goat and a “carol star”. The general theme is ethnography, folk holidays. The color scheme is closer to turquoise.

50 rubles- on the front side: Mir Castle, in the lower left corner there is a triangle, above it there is a picture similar to a “false window”, just like there are many in Mir Castle.

On the back is a composition on the theme of art: pen, paper, lyre, notes and laurel branches. The design is dominated by light green colors.

20 rubles. On the front side: the Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace in Gomel, in the corner there is a square, above it there is a window.

On the reverse side: a bell, the Turov Gospel, carvings, views of Turov in ancient times. The common theme is spirituality. The color of the bill is rather sand.

10 rubles. On the front side: Church of the Transfiguration in Polotsk. An example of ancient Polotsk architecture of the 12th century, a contemporary of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk. In the lower left corner there is a circle, above it there is an image of a high window.

The main theme of the reverse side is enlightenment and printing. Depicted: Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, books, seal of Francis Skaryna. The color of the banknote is closer to blue and gold.

5 rubles- the smallest of banknotes. On the front side is the White Vezha in Kamenets (Brest region) - a defensive structure of the 13th century, a rare example of the Romanesque style for Belarus. In the corner there is a “-” sign, above it there is an element of the fortress wall.

The reverse side of the banknote is dedicated to ancient Slavic history, depicting a wheel, a leather belt, and a reconstruction of the ancient fortified settlement “Berestye”. The general background is perhaps the color of ocher and brick.

The following coins will also appear in circulation:

Coins of 1 and 2 rubles made of silver-gray metal. The 2-ruble note has a yellow rim.

On the obverse (front side) of the coins there is the coat of arms of Belarus and the number “2009”.

On the reverse (back side) there is a denomination and an ornament representing the desire for happiness and freedom. These ornaments on 1 and 2 rubles are different, but the meaning is the same.

Kopecks, depending on the denomination, are divided into two colors, as in the Soviet Union, although there is no exact correspondence.

Small: 1, 2 and 5 kopecks- similar to copper, 10, 20, 50 kopecks- golden hue.

From May 20, 2019, updated banknotes of the 2009 model in denominations of 5 and 10 Belarusian rubles, issued in 2019, will be put into circulation. This decision was made by Resolution of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus dated April 24, 2019 No. 183 as part of ongoing measures to replace old banknotes being withdrawn from circulation and optimize the security complex of banknotes in circulation.

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

What has changed?

Let's start with the fact that samples of new money in Belarus were developed long before their introduction into circulation - the bills themselves were already printed in 2009 and locked in secure storage facilities. 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 came as a not very pleasant surprise: not only did they have to change wallets (after all, old wallets did not have special compartments), but also automatic machines, ATMs and other machines that previously accepted even the most small bills, not reconfigured for pennies. It is also worth noting that even the acquisition of new wallets did not help people adapt to the 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 (which is what the new currency was called in the country at a time when it still coexisted with the old money) were even criticized for their excessive similarity to the euro.

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

Unaccepted projects

Of course, there were also those who wanted to see the new money in Belarus completely different. Photos of possible banknote options appeared on the Internet even a year before the redenomination. Many suggested putting famous Belarusians on the portraits; however, they differed on who exactly deserves to represent the country on its banknotes: some turned to the fighters for Belarusian statehood, others to the rulers of different eras, and still others to figures of science and art.

Another interesting concept that never came to fruition was using images of antique household items and jewelry to remind people of their roots. The third option proposed reorienting the bills, that is, making them not the 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 to the 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 it was released into circulation, no one could say what the new money would be like in Belarus. It was known that new security technologies were used in their production, which would make counterfeiting almost impossible. The banknotes contained special signs in the form of geometric shapes, by which visually impaired people could recognize the denominations. In addition, a special method of strengthening the corners was used, thanks to which the bills will be more resistant to abrasion, which could not be said about old-style money. Another difference is the change in the design: in the light, not abstract patterns are visible, but the building depicted on the banknote. The traditional thing that has been preserved in the way the new money of Belarus looks is the following: stitching with a special tape with the embossed abbreviation NBRB (National Bank of the Republic of Belarus). This is also aimed at improving the security of banknotes against counterfeiting.

Coins

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

At the same time, despite the originality and unusualness, even today, six months after the introduction of the new coins, it is difficult to say what these samples of the new money of Belarus will look like in five to ten years. The fact is that coins of small denominations are made so poorly that it is difficult for a young person to see what is written on them, let alone someone who has poor eyesight. In addition, denominations wear off very quickly, and small coins themselves are subject to corrosion. As for the two-ruble coins, which the republic is so proud of, it turned out that when not very much force is applied, 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 like in Belarus. Photos of price tags that did not have the usual zeros, incomprehensible at first conversions between old and new money that baffled even those who are good at mathematics - all this has already subsided.

From January 1, 2017, six months after the official introduction of banknotes of the 2009 model 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 outdated monetary units and finally get used to what the new money of Belarus looks like.

Attempts to understand

What changed when new money appeared in Belarus? Photos of banknotes immediately after the denomination flooded the Internet, causing the country to be hit with a barrage of jokes about long-forgotten banknotes with images of animals, popularly nicknamed “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 his entire salary in a few bills.

When there were conversations about what new money would be in Belarus, a photo of a bill whose denomination was equivalent to 50 dollars was surprising, let alone the bills equal to 100 and 250 dollars (however, it should be noted that the latter are not available to the general public). For people who are accustomed to the fact that “two rubles” (which is what 2,000 old rubles used to be called) is a tenth of a dollar, now the stable “dollar - two rubles” sounds a little reassuring. In addition, due to confusion with prices (especially during the period when it was possible to pay and receive change using both new and old money), the state was able to increase them without the population noticing. It’s easier to say that the new money in Belarus, despite the fact that it was pleasing to the eye, brought more difficulties and problems. Or perhaps this is all a temporary phenomenon that will disappear when the state finally gets rid of old money in its consciousness.

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 produced them advocated for.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated November 4, 2015 No. 450 announced the 3rd denomination of the national currency since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The 2000 money exchange, which began on July 1, 2016, was a consequence of prolonged hyperinflation in the Republic. The exchange of old money for new ones in Belarus is carried out for:

• facilitating the payment system;
• reducing the costs of issuing banknotes;
• identifying hidden income of the population;
• strengthening the Belarusian ruble against the euro and dollar.

For the population, the key questions were where, how and until when it was possible to exchange old money for new ones.

Is it possible to exchange old money for new ones in Belarus?

Denomination in its simplest sense removes extra zeros from banknotes. Banknotes of the 2000 model are useless on their own. Until December 31, 2016, the country, in fact, had a double price tag for goods, i.e. it was possible to pay with both old and new money.

In all stores in Belarus one could see the conversion table:

New denomination	Old denomination
1 kop.	100 BYR
2 kopecks	200 BYR
5 kopecks	500 BYR
10 kopecks	1,000 BYR
20 kopecks	2,000 BYR
50 kopecks	5,000 BYR
1 BYR	10,000 BYR
2 BYR	20,000 BYR
5 BYR	50,000 BYR
10 BYR	100,000 BYR
20 BYR	200,000 BYR
50 BYR	500,000 BYR
100 BYR	1,000,000 BYR
200 BYR	2,000,000 BYR
500 BYR	5,000,000 BYR

Starting from January 1, 2017, only Belarusian banknotes of 2009 have value. The exchange of old money for new ones in Belarus is not only possible, but has become a necessary reality. There is no point in keeping waste paper that is worth nothing.

The exchange amount must be a multiple of 100. If the amount is less than the established limit, the National Bank simply has nothing to give you.

In Russia and Kazakhstan, from January 1, 2017, the exchange of Belarusian currency of the 2000 model for domestic currency is impossible due to their withdrawal. The only option is to exchange them for 2009 banknotes. Then, if desired, you can buy any currency with them.

Only public banknotes can be exchanged. The denomination did not affect investment and commemorative coins issued by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus in recent years before the denomination. They are valid for any payments. The value of each banknote is equal to their face value.

The 2016 denomination was planned already in 2008. New banknotes were developed in 2007, but the 2008 crisis that hit the world economy did not allow Belarus to carry out monetary reform on time. Old-style money is exchanged in Belarus at the rate of 10,000:1. This rate is set at the same rate for the entire exchange period.

Both cash and cards can be exchanged. When withdrawing money from a card, the exchange occurs automatically at the accepted rate. Deposit owners will not have to write a new application for recalculation of funds. Some banks were able to adapt immediately and their customers could withdraw savings from ATMs in the new currency starting July 1, 2016.

Instead of thousandth banknotes, the following are introduced into circulation:

How does denomination happen?

Denomination is the enlargement of a country’s monetary unit. As of June 1, 2016, over 97% of the amount and 60% of all banknotes in circulation among the population in the form of cash were seized.

Currency reform is a measure that the Republic’s economy needed 8-9 years ago. Hyperinflation made every first resident of the country a millionaire. At the same time, banknotes of truly high value were extremely rare. Belarusians had to carry a real money bag with them, and the coins went out of circulation completely. Because of this, the Belarusian banknote has become known as one of the strangest currencies in Europe.

Consolidation is a purely technical event. It does not affect the level of inflation, salaries, the amount of debt obligations, the exchanger works automatically. The same cannot be said about special management and accounting programs, such as 1C. With the introduction of kopecks, it became necessary to move to new configurations; it will be necessary not only to modify the form, but also to update the metadata. You can do this yourself following the instructions if you use a simple accounting system. In other cases, the help of specialists is necessary.

Denomination in the Republic of Belarus began not only 8 years later than expected, but also under very strange circumstances. The National Bank has officially admitted that the first batch of new money has a spelling error (“pyatsdzesyat” instead of “pyatsdzyasyat”) and is a facsimile of the former head of the central bank of Belarus. The fact is that the banknotes were printed back in 2008, since then the country has undergone a change in the leadership of the National Bank and language reform. And since they printed a decent amount of banknotes, they did not redo anything.

The design of the new banknotes, although imbued with pride in national places, was developed by EU artists. Many note the fact that the new Belarusian ruble is similar to the euro. It is noteworthy that money was also printed abroad, in particular in Great Britain.

Where can you exchange old-style money for new ones, and until what time can the exchange be carried out?

Most of the old banknotes were changed in 2017. But up to 7 requests are still received every day to exchange old Belarusian money for new ones. The Republic of Belarus has approved the following dates and places where it is still possible to change old money. signs:

• 01.2018–31.12.2019, inclusive: exchange only in the territory of the Republic of Belarus. You will receive banknotes of the 2009 sample from the National Bank, banking and parabank credit organizations.
• 01.2020–31.12.2021, inclusive: only at the National Bank of the Republic.

On January 1, 2022, the 2000 banknotes were officially declared invalid. The population of Belarus, as well as citizens of other countries who still have that kind of money, have 5 years.

Most of those who have not exchanged their old money at the moment are either holders of 50 ruble banknotes. (according to the devaluation rate, there is simply nothing to exchange such money for in a single quantity) or with a face value of 100,000 rubles. and more. There is a possibility that after some time, high denomination banknotes will be of interest to collectors. Already now there are advertisements online about selling them for n-amount in dollars. Enterprising “millionaires” should keep in mind that numismatists will be interested in specimens that have been preserved in good condition, as well as rare series.

Rare and expensive modern Belarusian banknotes

It may not always be profitable to exchange old Belarusian money for new ones. For those who do not understand bonistics, below is a list of banknotes for which collectors are already ready to pay you a tidy sum of money.

Banknotes of rare series:

• 50 rub. 2000 Lo series;
• 100 rub. 2000 TV series;
• 100 rub. 2000 TB series;
• 500 rub. 2000 series Pl;
• 1,000 rub. 2000 series VZ;
• 1,000 rub. 2000 series NG.

Defective banknotes are also of interest. For example, a paper jam occurs when printing. It is very difficult to find them, but if you do, you will get 10 times their real value.

The 2016 redenomination is a breath of fresh air in the Belarusian economy. It is difficult to say whether the decision was right to push back the deadline by as much as 8 years. Reforms are always difficult, since any violation of the usual way of life, especially concerning the financial well-being of the population, is a period of denial and rampant fraudulent schemes. But in conditions of hyperinflation, this is the only tool that can protect the country from default.

When planning a trip to Belarus, it will be useful to familiarize yourself with the features of the country's payment system. But this article contains valuable information on this topic not only for guests of the Republic, but also for its residents.

A little history

The Belarusian ruble is a relatively young national currency in Belarus. The monetary unit began its history of formation in the first half of the 90s, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Belarus became isolated, and the country began to need its own money. Since 1992, coupons have been in circulation, but non-cash payment transactions were already carried out in Belarusian rubles. In 1993, there were payment cards, and starting from the end of July of that year, Soviet rubles began to be withdrawn from monetary circulation.

Since 1994, the Belarusian ruble has rightfully acquired the status of the country’s only currency.

Belarusian banknotes of the 1992 model

Belarusian banknotes of the 1994-1999 model

Belarusian banknotes of the 2000 model

Denominations

The formation of the country's modern money was long and, to some extent, thorny. Already in 1994, the Bank of Belarus carried out the first redenomination of the ruble by 10 times. In 2000, the currency underwent a second transformation into nominal value, but already 1000 times.

On July 1, 2016, the country's economy again required redenomination. The ratio was 1:10,000. Another innovation was that from the same time the minting of state coins began.

The ratio of banknotes after denomination in 2016 (money of the Republic of Belarus of the new sample and outdated)

Commemorative coins

Previously, the Belarusian ruble did not have units of exchange, however, since 1996, the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus has been issuing commemorative coins, which are legal tender and represent a certain value for collectors. Such coins are minted from gold, silver or copper-nickel alloy on various themes.

Modern money of Belarus

Previously, the lack of coins distinguished Belarus from other countries. But this was done in order to save the state budget.
Currently, modern Belarusian rubles (abbreviated “Br”) are represented by:

• banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 rubles;
• coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 kopecks, as well as 1 and 2 rubles.

In this case, 1 ruble is equal to 100 kopecks.
Both coins and paper bills are regulated by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.

I am looking for a currency exchange

For both guests and residents of the country, currency exchange is a sensitive and pressing issue. Therefore, we further suggest that you familiarize yourself with the features of the conversion of Belarusian rubles.

Upon arrival

Since the Belarusian currency is not freely convertible, it will not be possible to purchase it before entering the country.

Banks in Belarus easily convert foreign money into national money. You can exchange existing banknotes of other countries for Belarusian rubles at currency exchange offices. Such points are located in bank branches, shopping centers, markets, hotels. You can also convert cash at airports and train stations, but the exchange rate there is very unfavorable, so it’s better not to change money unless absolutely necessary.
It is convenient to quickly analyze exchange rates using special online services that collect up-to-date information from the websites of local banks.

NA note: usually the most favorable currency exchange rates are offered by medium and small banks.

Upon departure

When leaving Belarus, you should take care in advance to transfer money into the currency of the country of arrival. In this case, it is better to be guided by the golden rule: do not put all your eggs in one basket. Namely: take a small part in cash, changing it at the exchanger at the most favorable rate, and transfer the rest to the card. When heading to the countries of the European Union, you should issue a card in euros, to all other countries - in US dollars. In this case, when paying, the conversion will be direct: the local currency will be converted into EUR or USD. But paying with a ruble card abroad is extremely unprofitable because of the double conversion: first from the local currency into euros or US dollars, and then into Belarusian rubles.

On the border

When making any payment transactions on the territory of Belarus, it is important not to forget to keep the stamped checks, indicating the transaction. Perhaps they will be checked at customs.

In addition, since 2013, a value added tax (VAT) refund system has been in place for foreign citizens for purchases made on the territory of Belarus when leaving it. This system is called Tax Free, and about 50 countries are connected to it. It should be taken into account that:

• it does not apply to residents of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan;
• the price of goods must be subject to VAT of 20%;
• the purchase amount must exceed 80 Belarusian rubles, and it must be made within 1 day in 1 store;
• refund amount – 12.5% ​​of the purchase amount without commissions;
• when purchasing, you must have a passport and notify the seller of your intention to issue a “VAT refund check” (hereinafter referred to as the “Check”);
• the receipt must be marked about the removal of the goods, with the original cashier's receipt attached and a copy of the seller's receipt;
• provide the goods to customs officers strictly within 3 months from the date of purchase;
• at customs, have unused goods in intact packaging, a passport, a buyer's receipt (with attached receipts);
• within 6 months after export, you must send the original Receipt to RUE Beltamozhservice, indicating the recipient’s bank card details on the envelope (sending is free);
• refund of the VAT amount in the recipient’s currency is made within 30 days from the date of receipt of the letter by employees of RUE “Beltamozhservice”;
• The refund amount can also be paid in cash at a special Tax Freecash Refund point (at the Minsk National Airport).

participating in the Tax Free program:

Bank cards

Among all payment methods in Belarus, the most popular is non-cash payment via bank payment cards.

Of the debit plastic cards in the republic, Visa and MasterCard are most often used; there are also Belcard and Maestro. And of the credit cards (more precisely, installment cards: the annual percentage is 0.000001%) the most popular among the population are Halva (MTBank), Purchase Card (Belgazprombank), Smart Card (Moscow-Minsk Bank), Magnit "(Belarusbank), "Turtle" (VTB Bank).

Traveler's checks

Until 2013, when traveling to Belarus, you could use AmericanExpress traveler's checks, which were the only payment system of this type. Today such a payment system does not function in the country.

Electronic payment systems

Convenient and modern electronic payment systems operate in Belarus. Popular Belarusian EPS:

• electronic wallets – EasyPay, WebMoney;
• payment via smartphone – iPay, ;
• payment systems by bank cards – WebPay, bePaid, Assist Belarus;

Tokens and payment cards

Since coins appeared in circulation not so long ago, tokens and payment cards have remained relevant in the country. Where they can be applied and purchased:

1. For travel on the subway. Plastic cards and metro tokens are sold at each station.
2. Operating payphones are installed on city streets, which are activated via smart cards. You can buy them at newsstands or at supermarket checkouts.
3. Vending machines, of which there are few in the republic, accept special tokens for payment, which are also available in newspaper stalls. By the way, the vast majority of vending machines are equipped with coin and bill acceptors, and national currency is accepted for payment.

A couple of decades ago, to the question “What kind of money is there in Belarus?” there was no clear answer. But now there is an active development of not only the Belarusian currency, but also electronic payment systems.