On December 27, 2023, Georgia announced that in 2025, the country will mark the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the lari, its national currency, with a commemorative polymer banknote.
The Georgian national currency was first put into circulation on September 25, 1995, and was declared the only legal tender in Georgia beginning October 2, 1995. The word "lari" is an old Georgian word that means treasure or property.
Given the importance of this event, the National Bank of Georgia will produce its first collector banknote in the denomination of 50 lari in the history of Georgia dedicated to the introduction of the national currency. A competition has now been announced to gather design sketches. Any applicant may participate in the competition—both residents and non-residents—who meets the terms of the competition and presents sketches of a design within the established deadline, except for the members of the committee established at the National Bank of Georgia for the selection of the respective design sketches and employees of the National Bank of Georgia.
The National Bank of Georgia has set forth the following terms for the design sketches:
- The main theme and concept is the 30th anniversary of the lari (national currency).
- The denomination is 50 lari.
- The substrate is polymer.
- The banknote measures 137 mm x 68 mm.
- The color scheme of banknote is clearly distinct from the one of the current lari banknotes in circulation.
- The following security features are to be incorporated into the polymer note: a transparent window, holographic foil and/or micro-optics, optical variable magnetic ink with additional effects, microtexts, relief images and inscriptions, intaglio printing (both sides), see-through image(s), features for the visually impaired, UV phosphorescent and fluorescent inks in two or more colors, IR (infrared) protection and magnetic property.
The obverse of the banknote should portray Georgia as a modern European state. It is desirable to demonstrate the important projects and achievements in the country's political-economic, cultural, scientific and other fields, implemented since the introduction of the lari. The reverse of the banknote should portray the history of Georgian money starting from Kolkhian Tetri before the lari, expressing in design elements, fragments of numismatic and bonistic heritage. It is important that the designs of both sides of the banknote convey these themes and link the past, present and future. Additional detailed, design requirements can be found at the site of the National Bank of Georgia.
All designs must be submitted in electronic form between January 8, 2024 and March 11, 2024. The winner designer will receive GEL 10,000 for the designs of both sides (GEL 5000 for each side).
Donald Ludwig, December 31, 2023
