GEL – Georgian Lari
Monetary System
1919-1923: 1 Georgian maneti = 100 kapeik
05.04.1993: Georgian coupon (GEK) = no subunit
02.10.1995: 1 Georgian lari (GEL) = 100 tetri
2025 Commemorative Issues
Scheduled for introduction in 2025, this 50-lari note commemorates the 30th anniversary of the introduction of Georgia’s currency, the lari. The winning entry in a design competition came from Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions, a renowned Swiss company founded in 1952. Their design centers on a powerful theme including Georgia’s rich history and cultural heritage interwoven with its vision for the future a modern, European, and economically independent nation. The banknote features a vertical layout instead of the traditional horizontal format. This symbolizes Georgia’s progress towards a sustainable future. Bright colors metaphorically represent the nation’s rich cultural diversity. The front of the note showcases Georgia’s modernity, highlighting its current achievements. The back depicts the nation’s rich history and cultural heritage.
Description: 50 GEL – Georgian Lari Size:
Purple, pink, green, blue, and yellow. Front (vertical): English and Georgian text; Cash Center of the National Bank of Georgia in Tbilisi; map of Georgia; coat of arms of Georgia. Back (vertical): English and Georgian text; four ancient coins. Security thread unknown.
2016 – 2020 Issues
Designed by Bacha Malazonia, these notes have revised designs/colors/dimensions and security features enhanced with assistance from De La Rue (England), Giesecke & Devrient (Germany), and Oberthur Fiduciare (France), although the bank has not disclosed which firm actually printed the notes.
Description: 5 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 122 x 62 mm
Brown. Front: English and Georgian text; denomination as registration device; gold-to-green star SPARK feature; Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University building; academic Ivane Javakhishvili. Back: English and Georgian text; farm scene from Niko Pirosmani’s (Pirosmanashvili) painting, “Threshing;” standing man from Niko Pirosmani’s painting, “A Fisherman in a Red Shirt;” coat of arms. Iridescent stripe. Holographic stripe with Ivane Javakhishvili, 5, and map of Georgia. gold-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized 5 ლარი. Watermark: Ivane Javakhishvili with electrotype 5 and lari symbol. Printer: (Unknown). 122 x 62 mm. Paper.
Description: 10 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 125 x 63 mm
Blue. Front: English and Georgian text; denomination as registration device; swallow bird in flight; gold-to-green blossom SPARK feature; blossoming branch; handwritten poem, “Spring;” poet Akaki Tsereteli. Back: English and Georgian text; woman with ball of yarn from artist David Kakabadze’s painting, “Imereti – Mother of Mine;” coat of arms. Iridescent stripe. Holographic stripe with Akaki Tsereteli, 10, and map of Georgia. gold-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized 10 ლარი. Watermark: Akaki Tsereteli with electrotype 10 and lari symbol. Printer: (Unknown). 125 x 63 mm. Paper.
Description: 20 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 132 x 66 mm
Magenta. Front: English and Georgian text; denomination as registration device; magenta-to-green SPARK feature; publishing house; magazine Sakartvelos Moambe and newspaper Iveria; personal belongings, including lens, watch, pen, and inkpot; publisher Ilia Chavchavadze. Back: English and Georgian text; panorama of old Tbilisi featuring the Narikala fortress; equestrian monument to King Vakhtang Gorgasali; map of Tbilisi in the 18th century (prepared by Vakhushti Batonishvili); coat of arms. Iridescent stripe. Holographic stripe with Ilia Chavchavadze, 20, phaeton (horse-drawn carriage), and map of Georgia. Magenta-to-gold windowed security thread with demetalized 20 ლარი. Watermark: Ilia Chavchavadze with electrotype 20 and lari symbol. Printer: (Unknown). 132 x 66 mm. Paper.
Description: 50 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 137 x 68 mm
Green. Front: English and Georgian text; denomination as registration device; green-to-gold SPARK feature; cave monastery in Vardzia; King Tamar; XIII-century bas-relief from Pitareti Virgin Mari Monastery. Back: English and Georgian text; astrological sign of Sagittarius from a Georgian miniature manuscript of the XII century; coat of arms. Iridescent stripe. Holographic stripe with King Tamar, 50, lari symbol, griffin, and map of Georgia. Magenta-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized 50 ლარი. Watermark: King Tamar with electrotype 50 and lari symbol. Printer: (Unknown). 137 x 68 mm. Paper.
Description: 100 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 142 x 70 mm
Violet. Front: English and Georgian text; denomination as registration device; magenta-to-green SPARK feature; poet Shota Rustaveli; VII-century bas-relief of biblical story “Daniel in the Den of Lions” from Martvili Cathedral of Assumption of the Virgin Mary; poem “The Knight in the Tiger Skin.” Back: English and Georgian text; gas lamp post; the Zakaria Paliashvili Tbilisi State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet on Freedom Square in Tbilisi; coat of arms. Iridescent stripe. Holographic stripe with Shota Rustaveli, 100, lari symbol, flowers, and map of Georgia. Blue-to-red windowed security thread with demetalized 100 ლარი. Watermark: Shota Rustaveli with electrotype 100 and lari symbol. Printer: (Unknown). 142 x 70 mm. Paper.
2002 – 2014 Issues
Beginning in 2002, the banknotes of the 1999 series were once again modified and security features upgraded due to dissatisfaction with the quality of notes previously supplied by François Charles Oberthur of France. According to its annual reports, the bank collaborated with Austrian and Dutch firms to produce these new notes. Although the security printers were not indentified by name, they are likely to be Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruck of Austria, and Johan Enschedé en Zonen of The Netherlands, respectively. Later issues have been confirmed as printed (without imprint) by Giesecke & Devrient of Germany.
Description: 5 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 115 x 61 mm
Brown and green. Front: Georgian text; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; academic Ivane Javakhishvili. Back: English and Georgian text; map of Republic of Georgia and neighboring countries; golden statue of lion (property of Simon Janashia Museum in Tbilisi) from 3rd millennium BC burial ground in Alazani Valley; Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University building; open book with plant leaves. Windowed security thread with demetalized LARI. Watermark: Four Borjgali with electrotype GEL.Printer: (Unknown). 115 x 61 mm. Paper.
Description: 10 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 125 x 63 mm
Blue. Front: Georgian text; blossoming branch; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; poet Akaki Tsereteli; swallow bird; half-moon OVD. Back: English and Georgian text; tendril vines; woman with ball of yarn from artist David Kakabadze’s painting, “Imereti – Mother of Mine.” Windowed security thread with demetalized LARI. Watermark: Griffin with electrotype 10 GEL. Printer: Varieties. 125 x 63 mm. Paper.
Description: 20 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 131 x 65 mm
Brown, blue, and orange. Front: Georgian text; magazine Sakartvelos Moambe and newspaper Iveria; personal belongings, including lens, watch, pen, and inkpot; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; publisher Ilia Chavchavadze; oval OVD. Back: English and Georgian text; map of Tbilisi in the 18th century (prepared by Vakhushti Batonishvili); equestrian monument to King Vakhtang Gorgasali; panorama of old Tbilisi featuring the Narikala fortress. Windowed security thread with demetalized LARI. Watermark: Griffin with electrotype 20 GEL. Printer: (Unknown). 131 x 65 mm. Paper.
Description: 50 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 135 x 66 mm
Brown. Front: Georgian text; carving of griffin from Samtavisi Cathedral; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; King Tamar. Back: English and Georgian text; astrological sign of Sagittarius from a Georgian miniature manuscript of the XII century. Windowed security thread with demetalized LARI. Watermark: King Tamar with electrotype 50 GEL. Printer: (Unknown). 135 x 66 mm. Paper.
Description: 100 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 140 x 67 mm
Green. Front: Georgian text; two angels holding a cross; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; poet Shota Rustaveli. Back: English and Georgian text; VII-century bas-relief of biblical story “Daniel in the Den of Lions” from Martvili Cathedral of Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Windowed security thread with demetalized LARI. Watermark: Shota Rustaveli with electrotype 100 GEL. Printer: (Unknown). 140 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 200 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 146 x 72 mm
Yellow. Front: Georgian text; partisan Kaikhosro (Kakutsa) Cholokashvili; fragments of relief images of Georgian cultural artifacts. Back: English and Georgian text; Sokhumi, capital of breakaway region of Abkhaz; relief fragments of the iconostasis found in the Tsebelda village of Gulribshi region. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized 200. Watermark: Kaikhosro Cholokashvili with electrotype GEL200. Printer: (Giesecke & Devrient). 146 x 72 mm. Paper.
This is the first regular issue note to use LOOK (Laser Originated Optical Key), a security feature that creates laser-induced effects in the substrate, print color, foil, and varnish.
Money Museum
In 2001, on the 10th anniversary of national independence, the National Bank of Georgia established a museum of money that is open to visitors. The Money Museum founded at the National Bank of Georgia is the only one in the country that is fully dedicated to money and not only from the historical viewpoint. The museum’s exhibits lead the onlookers through the centuries-old history of money circulation in Georgia, from the 6th century B.C. up to the present, and also show samples of foreign currency from different countries of the world.
The Money Museum Exhibition is open every day except Saturday and Sunday from 9 am until 6 pm, with a break between 1 pm and 2 pm. It is located at 3/5 Leonidze Street in Tbilisi, Georgia. Telephone: +995 32 2406405.
Banknotes issued between 1995 and 1999 lost their legal tender status. We don’t buy these notes anymore.
1999 Issues
These notes are like the preceding issues, but with the country name shortened to Georgia from Republic of Georgia, both in English (on back) and Georgian (on front).
Description: 5 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 115 x 61 mm
Brown and green. Front: Georgian text; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; academic Ivane Javakhishvili. Back: English and Georgian text; map of Republic of Georgia and neighboring countries; golden statue of lion (property of Simon Janashia Museum in Tbilisi) from 3rd millennium BC burial ground in Alazani Valley; Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University building; open book with plant leaves. Solid security thread. Watermark: Borjgali and Tree of Life pattern. Printer: (François-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire). 115 x 61 mm. Paper.
Description: 10 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 125 x 63 mm
Blue. Front: Georgian text; blossoming branch; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; poet Akaki Tsereteli; swallow bird. Back: English and Georgian text; tendril vines; woman with ball of yarn from artist David Kakabadze’s painting “Imereti – Mother of Mine.” Solid security thread. Watermark: Borjgali and Tree of Life pattern. Printer: (François-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire). 125 x 63 mm. Paper.
Description: 20 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 131 x 65 mm
Brown, blue, and orange. Front: Georgian text; magazine Sakartvelos Moambe and newspaper Iveria; personal belongings, including lens, watch, pen, and inkpot; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; publisher Ilia Chavchavadze. Back: English and Georgian text; map of Tbilisi in the 18th century (prepared by Vakhushti Batonishvili); equestrian monument to King Vakhtang Gorgasali; panorama of old Tbilisi featuring the Narikala fortress. Solid security thread. Watermark: Griffin. Printer: (François-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire). 131 x 65 mm. Paper.
Description: 50 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 135 x 66 mm
Brown. Front: Georgian text; carving of griffin from Samtavisi Cathedral; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; King Tamar. Back: English and Georgian text; astrological sign of Sagittarius from a Georgian miniature manuscript of the XII century. Solid security thread. Watermark: Griffin. Printer: (François-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire). 135 x 66 mm. Paper.
Description: 100 GEL – Georgian Lari Size: 140 x 67 mm
Green. Front: Georgian text; two angels holding a cross; Borjgali (the symbol of the sun) and Tree of Life; poet Shota Rustaveli. Back: English and Georgian text; carved relief of biblical story “Daniel in the Den of Lions” from the Martvili monastery. Solid security thread. Watermark: Griffin. Printer: (François-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire). 140 x 67 mm. Paper.
