2016-09-19 Mon

Belarus faced a rather strange situation when they had to keep the independent country’s first set of circulating coins safe in vaults for seven years due to high inflation. Belarus became independent in 1991 from the Soviet Union and finally released the new set of 8 coins on 1st July 2016 which were originally struck in 2009.

Belarusian ruble was also redenominated on the same day by taking off four zeros and converting 10,000 rubles to 1 ruble. Some redenominated notes were also produced in 2008 which were the only form of circulating currency until the coins were introduced.

The coin set includes 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 20- and 50-copeck pieces and 1- and 2-ruble coins. They feature the national emblem on one side and the denomination along with a traditional design on the other. The 2-ruble piece is a ringed-bimetallic coin with a lettered edge. The 1-ruble coin is composed of nickel-plated steel. The 50-, 20- and 10-copeck coins are made of brass-plated steel, and the 5-, 2- and 1-copeck pieces are composed of copper-plated steel.