In the last quarter of the X century. The importance of Arab dirhams in servicing the money market of Russian lands has decreased. This happened through the depletion of silver deposits in the countries of the East, and consequently, a decrease in their supply to Rus'.
At the same time, the quality of Kufic dirhams deteriorated, making them unsuitable for use in international trade. In the northern east and northern west of Rus', this gap was filled to a certain extent by Western European denarii, but the money market of the southern Russian lands did not accept them. At the end of the 11th century. These coins also stopped being imported to Rus'. Taking this into account, in the first decades of the 12th century. coins took their place in the money market hryvnia- massive bars of silver or gold of a specified weight and shape. They were more convenient than coins for paying significant sums of money, they were easier to transport and turn into raw materials for artisan jewelers.
In the monetary circulation of the Eastern Slavs, hryvnias in the form of silver ingots have been known for a long time. A treasure consisting of Kufic dirhams and hryvnias discovered near Staraya Ladoga dates back to 808. However, the ingots of the 9th century. were not yet coin hryvnias: they did not have a standard weight and fineness. These payment bars were used alongside dirhams and denarii throughout the 10th and 11th centuries, and their number was constantly growing - in individual monetary complexes they constitute a significant part. Yes, in one of the Volynian treasures, which dates back to the 10th century, there are 41 stick-like ingots. At the same time, gold bars of the same shape appear in the basin of the middle reaches of the Dnieper. From the XII century. Coin hryvnias - bars of standardized weight and fineness - are increasingly being recorded in treasures. There are no coins in these complexes, which gave researchers grounds to conclude that the “Coinless” period began in the history of the monetary economy of the Kievan state. However, the term “coinless” should not be taken unconditionally. I. Spassky used it to determine the break in coinage on Russian lands, which lasted until the second half of the 14th century. Indeed, during this time, coins continued to remain on the money market of the Russian lands, although their share decreased significantly. The emergence and rapid spread of monetary hryvnias were predetermined by the rise of the economy, crafts and trade, the development of feudal relations, the formation of large land ownership, which led to the concentration of wealth in the hands of the ruling elite - members of the princely family, the service and zemstvo boyars, and the merchant elite. It was in hryvnias that debts and indemnities were paid; treasures in the princely, boyar and church treasuries were stored in them. In 1144, the Galician prince Volodymyrko Volodarovich (1124-1153) was forced to pay the Kyiv prince an indemnity in the amount of 1,400 hryvnia of silver, that is, from 230 to 280 kg of this precious metal. Somewhat later, in 1146, Prince Ivan Berladnik received 200 hryvnias of silver and 12 hryvnias of gold as payment for his service from the Chernigov prince Svyatoslav. In everyday circulation, due to their significant value, coin hryvnias and their fractions were not used.
Among numismatist researchers, there is no single idea regarding the dating of the appearance of the first coin hryvnia. Most of them are inclined to think that their production began in the second half of the 11th century. The first to appear on the money market Kyiv style hryvnia- diamond-shaped hexagonal ingots of silver, the weight of which ranged from 161 to 164 g. This almost coincided with half the Byzantine liter of silver - 163.73 g. They were produced in Kyiv - that is where most of them were discovered. Archaeological research in recent years gives reason to assert that the place of their production was the largest monasteries of the princely capital city. At this time, over 400 hryvnias of this type are known, the distribution area of which covered Kyiv, Chernigov, Volyn, Smolensk and other lands. Similar in appearance to them are the so-called pseudo Kiev heavy hryvnias, but they are much thicker and have smoothed edges. The main difference is their significantly greater weight - ~ 204 g, which is close to the weight standard of Novgorod hryvnia. The topography of finds of pseudo-Kiev ingots is limited primarily to the Ryazan and Tver lands, and there are much fewer of them in the territory of Southern Rus'. This enabled M. Kotlyar to admit that these were hryvnias of North Russian origin, which were an intermediate type of coin hryvnia between the South Russian and North Russian coin-weight systems. This type of hryvnia appeared on the market in the middle of the 12th century.
The most common throughout Rus' were Novgorod-type hryvnias, which looked like a slightly bent silver stick. Therefore, they are often called “boat-like”. At this time, over 500 units of Novgorod-type hryvnia are known, which come from 100 treasures. The weight standard for ingots of this type was 204.756 g, which was equal to half a pound weighing 409.5 g. Their production began at the end of the 11th - in the first half of the 12th century.
The most mysterious type of ancient Russian coin hryvnia is Chernigov type silver bars. Unlike other types of hryvnias, they usually have an irregular shape and are made rather sloppily. These ingots were produced periodically, depending on demand. The places of their production could be not only cities, but also rural areas. The population had doubts about their quality, evidence of which is the frequent flattening of the surface - this is how it was checked. This was also the reason why Chernigov-type hryvnias most often became raw materials for artisan jewelers. Their production was concentrated in several regions, one of which was Chernigovo-Siversk land. The average weight of these ingots ranged between 195.56 g and 196.74 g.
An interesting fact is that in addition to whole hryvnias of the Chernigov type, half hryvnias were also made. Other types of hryvnia were divided into fractions by cutting whole ingots.
Old Russian hryvnias of all types were made by casting in open molds. Their quality was closely related to the perfect manufacturing of the mold itself. The length, width and height of the ingot depended on its execution. Its surface is predominantly rough, porous, covered with shells (cavities), which were formed as a result of burning additives and slags. The quality of silver in coin hryvnias is quite high and ranges between 915 and 960 samples. The shape of the first Chernigov (North Russian) hryvnia initially corresponded to the samples of Kyiv ingots, but their thick and short ends were unfavorable for flattening. Therefore, a new shape was introduced for Chernigov hryvnias - diamond-shaped, with long elongated ends that were easily flattened. However, after some period of time, manufacturers simplified this shape by eliminating the triangular protrusions on the longitudinal sides. The appearance of the Chernigov type hryvnias became elliptical.
Hryvnia used as cash in Ancient Rus', the Grand Duchy of Russia, and the Golden Horde. Today the hryvnia is the national currency of Ukraine.
Brief description of the Old Russian hryvnia
The Old Russian hryvnia was the weight and monetary unit of Ancient Rus', some state entities of Eastern Europe and Lithuanian Rus'.
Experts say that its name comes from a certain neck decoration - “hryvnia”, which was mainly made of gold or silver.
This is where the monetary unit “silver hryvnia” came from. The latter was equivalent to a certain number of identical coins. Over time, the monetary unit of account received the name “hryvnia kun”.
The weight of the two above-mentioned monetary units was initially the same. But experts claim that the kun hryvnia was made from low-grade silver. It cost four times less than silver hryvnia. Over time, the latter evolved as a unit of weight. In the 12th century, one hryvnia of silver was equal to 4 kunas, 1 hryvnia of kuns was equal to 20 nogat. There were also smaller denominations of monetary units in Ancient Rus': 1 hryvnia kun contained 50 rezans and 150 veveritsa.
Brief description of the hryvnia of the Grand Duchy of Russia
The Lithuanian hryvnia in the coinless period was a stick-shaped silver ingot that bore a good resemblance to Scandinavian ingots. At the beginning of the 14th century, Lithuanian triangular hryvnias, weighing from 170 to 189.5, were common in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Russia. At the end of this century, the phenomenon of branding of hryvnias was very common (experts assume that this was carried out to certify quality).
In the Grand Duchy of Russia, along with Lithuanian hryvnias, other ingots were also used:
- Kiev, which was made in the diamond company and weighed 163-164 g;
- Novgorod, which had a rod-shaped appearance and weight 204 g;
- Chernigov diamond-shaped weighing 204 g;
- Tatar navicular of the same weight.
Experts were able to study that one Novgorod hryvnia was equal to a kope (60 Prague groschen).
Hryvnia – Ukrainian monetary unit
The above term is derived from the word "mane". Experts note that this one is named after the Kyiv hryvnia, which represented silver. Hryvnia consists of 100 kopecks.
In 1918, the Central Rada declared the hryvnia the monetary unit of the Ukrainian People's Republic. Already in October of this year, this currency was put into circulation, but in 1922 it was withdrawn from circulation after the currency reform.
After the declaration of independence of Ukraine, coupons were used on its territory, which were officially called karbovanets.
The hryvnia was introduced into circulation on the territory of modern Ukraine in September 1996. From that day on, banking institutions issued only this currency. Until 1998, the state provided the opportunity to exchange coupons for hryvnia at the rate of 100,000 carb. = 1 hryvnia.
Currency sign
The symbol of Ukrainian money is a handwritten version of the Cyrillic letter, which is indicated in the picture. It has two horizontal lines that symbolize stability.
This graphic symbol is also present in the form of a light watermark on banknotes in denominations of 1 hryvnia (2006), 200 (2007) and 500 (2006) hryvnia.
Experts note that the above symbol has a striking resemblance to the symbol of the ancient Roman weight unit - the dimidium. The difference between these images is the number of strokes: the dimidia has only one, in contrast to the hryvnia sign, which has two.
Coins
The first coins of independent Ukraine were minted in 1992, but entered circulation only in September 1996. They were made at the Lugansk Cartridge Plant, as well as at the Mints of France and Italy.
Currently in circulation are change coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 kopecks and circulating coins of 1 hryvnia. On the reverse side of the coins the coat of arms, the name of the state, and the year of minting are depicted, on the front side - its and floral patterns.
Coins in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 125, 250, 500 hryvnia are also issued for collection purposes. In addition, investment coins are minted:
- gold hryvnia (fineness 999.9) in denominations of 2, 5, 10 and 20 hryvnia;
- silver hryvnia in denomination of 1 hryvnia.
There are also 4 commemorative coins in circulation in Ukraine with a face value of 1 hryvnia:
- 2004 release (on the front side it has an inscription in Ukrainian “60 years of liberation of Ukraine from fascist invaders);
- 2005 release (on the obverse there is an inscription in Ukrainian “60 years of victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945”, and an image of soldiers illuminated by three spotlights);
- 2010 release (on the front side there is an inscription in Ukrainian “65 years of victory 1945-2010” and depicts two carnations at the Eternal Flame, the St. George Ribbon and the Order of the Patriotic War);
- 2012 release (on the obverse there is an inscription in Ukrainian “Final tournament of the European Football Championship 2012” and an image of the Euro 2012 logo in the center).
Banknotes
Absolutely all hryvnia banknotes are valid on Ukrainian territory, even those printed in 1992. In accordance with the resolution of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), all banknotes that were put into circulation before 2003 are currently being withdrawn, but they will continue to remain legal tender until the end of this process.
In circulation today on the territory of Ukraine there are national denominations:
- 1 hryvnia of gray-green, yellow or blue colors (on the front side it depicts a portrait of the Prince of Kievan Rus Vladimir the Great, and on the back side - the city of Vladimir in Kyiv);
- 2 hryvnias of a brown hue (on the obverse - a portrait of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, and on the reverse side - the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Kyiv);
- 5 hryvnia blue (on the front side there is a portrait of Hetman of Ukraine Bogdan Khmelnytsky, and on the back side - the Ilyinsky Shrine in Subotov);
- 10 hryvnia in red color (obverse – portrait of Hetman Ivan Mazepa, reverse – panorama of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra);
- 20 hryvnia green (on the front side there is a portrait of the writer Ivan Frank, on the back side - the building of the Lviv Opera House);
- 50 hryvnia purple (obverse – portrait of Mykhailo Grushevsky, reverse – building of the Central Regional Office of the UPR);
- 100 hryvnia in an olive or yellow hue (on the front side there is a portrait of the poet Taras Shevchenko, on the back side - the Dnieper River and a blind bandura player with a little guide boy);
- 200 hryvnia pink (obverse – portrait of the poetess Lesya Ukrainka, reverse – tower from Lutsk Castle);
- 500 peach-colored hryvnia (on the front side there is a portrait of Grigory Skovoroda, on the reverse side - the building of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy).
Exchange rate regime
At the time the Ukrainian national currency was put into circulation, its exchange rate was 1.76 hryvnia per US dollar. Over the next two years, the exchange rate of this currency was stable and remained at the level of 2 hryvnia per dollar.
The 1998 crisis had a negative impact on the national currency of Ukraine. The exchange rate fell to approximately 5.5 hryvnia per US dollar.
As of December 2009, the exchange rate of the hryvnia to the US currency was 8 UAH/1 cu. e.
At the beginning of 2014, in Ukraine, a dollar could be purchased for UAH 7.99. But by the end of this year, Ukraine’s value had depreciated by approximately 73.85%, according to experts.
By February 2015, the hryvnia exchange rate against the US dollar reached UAH 25.80. for 1 USD e.
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hryvnia, Ukrainian hryvnia, Belor. Gryźnia, Polish grzywna, Czech. hřívna; from Praslav * griva) - monetary and weight unit of ancient Russian and neighboring lands in the 11th-15th centuries. It was used, in particular, to measure the weight of silver and gold (where its monetary equivalent came from). The gold hryvnia was 12.5 times more expensive than the silver one. The first weight unit mentioned in ancient Russian chronicles.Story
The name comes from the name of the neck decoration “hryvnia”, often made of precious metals - gold or silver. Later, the meaning of the word was transformed and began to correspond to a certain amount (weight) of precious metal contained in a European mark. This is where the monetary unit came from "hryvnia of silver", first mentioned in the Charter of the Grand Duke Mstislav and his son Vsevolod to the Novgorod Yuriev Monastery (1130).
The hryvnia of silver was equivalent in quantity to a certain number of identical coins, hence their counting in pieces came from, and this monetary unit began to be called "hryvnia kun". Both hryvnias became payment and monetary concepts in Ancient Rus'.
Initially, the weight of a silver hryvnia and a kun hryvnia was the same, but kuns were made from low-grade silver and cost four times less than real silver ones. Later, there was a gradual change in the values of hryvnia relative to each other, which was caused by the unstable weight of imported coins, as well as the evolution of the hryvnia as a unit of weight. So a hryvnia of silver began to be equal to several hryvnia kun; in the 12th century, a hryvnia of silver, which then weighed about 204 grams, was equal to the value of four hryvnia kun (one hryvnia kun weighed about 51 grams).
The hryvnia kun was equivalent to a certain number of circulating coins.
- In the 11th century, 1 hryvnia kun = 20 nogatam = 25 kunam = 50 rezanam = 150 vereveritsa (vekshy)
- in the 12th century, 1 hryvnia kun = 20 nogatam = 50 kun (and the kuna was halved)
Varieties and names
- Coin hryvnia- a large “irredeemable” silver ingot. It was in circulation during the so-called “coinless period” of Ancient Rus' (XII, XIII and partly XIV centuries), when the minting of Old Russian coins (zlatnik, srebrenik) stopped and foreign coins began to come into circulation.
- Kyiv hryvnia- a hexagonal hryvnia, which was in circulation in Southern Rus' since the 11th century and weighed about 163-165 grams.
- Novgorod hryvnia- a long silver stick weighing about 204 grams. It was of greatest importance in monetary circulation. Initially it was widespread in the north-west of Rus', and from the middle of the 12th century it spread throughout the entire territory of Rus'.
- Chernihiv hryvnia- a transitional form between the Kyiv and Novgorod hryvnias. In shape it was close to the Kyiv one, and in weight - to the Novgorod one.
- Tatar hryvnia (sum)- a boat-shaped hryvnia, which was in circulation in the Volga region along with Tatar coins of the 14th century.
- Lithuanian (Western Russian) ruble- stick-shaped silver ingots with one or several dents on the back, measuring 10-17 cm, weighing 100-105 g. In the sources they are called hryvnia, Izroy.
- Lithuanian (Western Russian) trihedral ruble- stick-shaped triangular silver ingots weighing 170-189 g.
After the hryvnia ceased to circulate as a monetary unit, it remained as a weight unit - "kryvenka" or "rock hryvnia"(from “skalva” - scales) weighing 204.75 grams. The hryvnia was divided into 48 spools (4.26 grams), and the spool into 25 kidneys (0.17 grams). Also used as a measure of weight "big hryvnia"(or “whole weight hryvnia”) weighing 409.52 grams. This unit of weight was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the pound (1 pound = 1 large hryvnia = 2 hryvnia).
Zlatnik(or spool) - an ancient Russian coin, minted in the 10th-11th centuries. shortly after the Baptism of Rus'. The real name is unknown, the term “zlatnik” is found in the Russian-Byzantine treaty of the Prophetic Oleg, and is used in numismatics.
* on the obverse - Vladimir, on the reverse - Christ.
Srebrenik(or silver coin) - an ancient Russian coin of the 10th-11th centuries. The first pieces of silver repeated the type of Byzantine coins (obverse - prince, reverse - Christ). Soon the image of Christ was replaced by the Rurik family sign - a bident. Reminiscent of an inverted letter “P”, to which “shoots” were added at the bottom or in the middle, as well as dots and crosses.
* reverse - bident, crowned with a symmetrical cross.
In the 12th century, the “coinless period” began in Rus'. The minting of ancient Russian coins ceased, and foreign coins also practically disappeared from circulation. Since with the establishment of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, gold and silver began to be brought from Europe to Rus' in huge quantities. The main function of money becomes - accumulation: creation of the country's gold reserves and personal savings, treasures. Commodities and large “irredeemable” silver bars (hryvnia and ruble) became the form of monetary circulation.
Hryvnia, ruble, half
- precious metal ingot. Comes from the name of the jewelry “griven” - a gold or silver decoration in the form of a hoop, which was worn around the neck (on the “back of the neck”). Over time, the word acquired a new meaning and began to correspond to a certain weight of valuable metal. There are weights ( hryvnia silver) and counting unit ( hryvnia kun), which corresponded to a certain number of identical coins.
Weighted and counted hryvnia became payment and monetary concepts in Rus'.
In the 11th century, hexagonal Kievan hryvnias and Novgorod hryvnias - silver sticks - were in circulation. Since the 13th century, along with the name “hryvnia,” the name “ruble” began to be used.
The ruble is an ingot of precious metal. The etymology of the word is controversial. There is a version that “ruble” comes from the word “tripe”, since in Novgorod in the 13th century they began to prepare ingots using a new technology with a noticeable seam on the edge. “Rub” in Ukrainian and Belarusian means a scar, in Serbo-Croatian it means a seam, a border. Those. The ruble is an “ingot with a seam.”
At the same time as the ruble, the half ruble appeared.
Poltina(or fifty dollars) - half of a cut ingot.
The “coinless period” ended in the 14th century. The “hryvnia” and “ruble” bars ceased to be monetary units of payment; The hryvnia became a unit of weight, and the ruble a unit of account. From a hryvnia of silver (204 grams) 200 coins were minted, which made up a counting ruble (the ruble did not exist as a coin). Small silver coins (money) became real monetary units.
Denga, kopek, half
Denga(from Turkic täŋkä - coin) - Russian silver coin. Mostly they minted “Moskovka” (Moscow denga) and “Novgorodka” (Novgorod denga), and the Novgorodka was twice as heavy and equal to two Moskovki.
On the obverse of the Moskovka, a horseman with a saber was depicted, and on the obverse of the Novgorod, a horseman with a spear, so soon the Novgorod denga began to be called “kopek”, and the Moscow denga simply “denga”.
Kopek(obsolete spear coin) - comes from the word “spear” (on Novgorod a horseman with a spear was depicted). Only not George the Victorious, but the sovereign; previously it was customary to depict princes on money.
* Since the weight of a “penny” was equal to 1/100 of a ruble, it became more widespread. For large purchases, kopecks were packaged in paper wrappers of 100 pieces (ruble).
Polushka(or half-denga) - a silver coin in denominations of half a denga and a quarter of a penny (weight of a half-denga 0.17 g, dengi 0.34 g, kopeck 0.68 g).
SINGLE STANDARD:
At first, coins of different types and weights were minted in different principalities, so in the 16th century they left 3 monetary courts and introduced a single standard:
Kopeyka (horseman with a spear);
Denga (horseman with saber) = 1/2 kopeck;
Polushka (bird) = 1/4 kopeck.
COUNTING UNITS:
Ruble = 100 kopecks (or 200 money);
Poltina = 50 kopecks;
Hryvnia = 10 kopecks;
Altyn = 3 kopecks.
Altyn(from the Turkic alty - six) - the counting altyn was equal to 6 Moscow (saber) dengs or 3 Novgorod (kopek) dengs. Altyn was an intermediate unit during the transition from the Russian monetary system, with the beginnings of a decimal system into a duodecimal one.
3 rubles = 100 altyns;
1 ruble = 33 altyn + 2 dengi.
Kopek in the 16th century. The craftsman received 40 kopecks a month; carpenter, mason - 15 kopecks/month. A cow cost 80 kopecks, a chicken - 1 kopeck.
The hryvnia of Kievan Rus played a vital role in the monetary and commodity relations of Ancient Rus'. This Old Russian coin was in circulation in almost all Old Russian principalities and in some other East European Slavic states. The hryvnia of Kievan Rus served to measure the mass of such precious metals as silver and gold. At the same time, the cost of a gold hryvnia was approximately twelve and a half times higher than a silver hryvnia.
It is believed that the hryvnia owes its name to ancient jewelry that was worn around the neck. Such hryvnias were usually made of silver or gold.
Some time later, the ancient Russian hryvnia turned into a certain equivalent of the weight of precious metals, becoming the main monetary unit of Rus' for centuries. The first mention of the hryvnia dates back to 1130.
The first coins of Kievan Rus
The silver hryvnia became the equivalent of a certain number of coins that had a certain weight. It was from this that the counting began not only by weight, but also by pieces, and this equivalent began to be called “hryvnia kun.” Both the silver hryvnia and its derivative, the kun hryvnia, became the basis of payment and monetary relations that developed in Kievan Rus.
This ancient Russian coin had several varieties that were in legal circulation in almost all Russian principalities. For example, there was the “Kiev hryvnia”, which was in circulation around the 11th century. It had a shape resembling a hexagon, and its mass was about 165. Somewhat later, the “Novgorod hryvnia” began to circulate; it began to be mentioned in the 13th century. It was made in the form of a rod, and at first it was mainly used in commodity-money relations in the territory of North-Western Rus'. This hryvnia weighed 204 g. Then the “Chernigov hryvnia” appeared. It is called a transitional hryvnia, since its mass was equivalent to the Novgorod hryvnia, and its shape resembled the Kyiv hryvnia.
Old Russian coins - Novgorod hryvnia
The hryvnia of Kievan Rus appeared in the “coinless period” after such ancient Russian coins as the silver coin and the zlatnik ceased to be minted.
In the 14th century, the “Tatar hryvnia” appeared, which was mainly in use in the Volga region along with other Tatar coins; it was made in the shape of a boat. In Western (Lithuanian Rus) the “Lithuanian hryvnia” was in circulation; it was made in the form of a small rod about 15 cm long and weighing up to 105 g.
Coins of Kievan Rus
The Old Russian hryvnia, both in the form of a silver hryvnia and in the form of a kun hryvnia, had the same weight. However, the latter was made from low-grade silver, and it was 4 times cheaper than a hryvnia of silver. Over time, the value of hryvnias relative to each other has changed. This is explained by the unstable weight of imported coins that came to Rus' and circulated there, and the change in the status of the hryvnia as the main measuring standard. For example, a silver hryvnia was compared in value to four hryvnia kunas. At that time, the Old Russian silver hryvnia had a mass of 204 g, while the kun hryvnia weighed only 51 g.
not flattened coin of ancient Rus'
Hryvnia of Kievan Rus, this mainly concerns the Novgorod hryvnia, which in the 13th century began to be called “ruble” and after some time this name practically squeezed out the ancient name “hryvnia”. It was then that the ancient Russian coin acquired a new name, still used today, “ruble”.
Silver bars, called hryvnias and rubles, ceased to play the role of monetary means in the 15th century. But the well-known name “ruble” remained; they began to call it the main monetary unit, which later formed the monetary system of the Russian state. The Old Russian hryvnia, which then weighed 204 g, became the standard measure for minting new Russian metal money.
The first coins in Rus' are a copy of a silver bar
However, even when the hryvnia ceased to exist as a monetary unit, it continued to exist as a standard of weight, having a mass of 204.75 g. The weight hryvnia was used almost until the 18th century, and then it was replaced by the pound.
