More recently, literally in July last year, there was another denomination of the ruble in the Republic of Belarus. It is worth noting that it was not the only one, because after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the denomination was carried out 4 times. The last monetary reform greatly facilitated the system of settlements in Belarus, because before it it was almost impossible to comfortably use monetary units. Let's answer the question why there was a denomination of money in Belarus in 2016, its causes and consequences.
If to speak in simple words what is a denomination, then in fact it is just a change in face value national currency. This procedure is used to facilitate the settlement system, as well as to stabilize the economic situation within the state after economic crisis or hyperinflation.
If we talk about the reasons for the denomination in general, then when it is carried out, the ratio of money changes, in this case in Belarus it changed 1 to 10,000, and in Russia in 1998, the nominal value of the national currency decreased by 1000. Accordingly, after these events, the entire cost of goods and services also decreased by 10,000 times. Why do you need a regular denomination:
Please note that in most cases, monetary reforms are carried out during a crisis or after hyperinflation in order to restore the domestic economy.
As mentioned earlier, the denomination in the Republic of Belarus was carried out repeatedly, and this was only after the collapse of the USSR. The first monetary reform was carried out in 1992, when 1 zero disappeared from the nominal value of the national currency. At that moment in Belorussian rubles had an original design, because they were decorated with images of animals, and among the people they were called "bunnies".
The second monetary reform was not long in coming, and was carried out 2 years after the first, then another zero disappeared from the national currency. But at that time, after secession from the USSR, Belarus gained independence and never held economic reforms, which led to inflation, so by the beginning of the new century it again became necessary to denominate the currency, then the ratio was 1 to 1000.
The last denomination of the Belarusian ruble in 2016, as mentioned earlier, banknotes have become 10,000 times smaller. One has only to think about the fact that before the reform, there were banknotes of 2 and 5 million Belarusian rubles in circulation on the territory of the state, and if translated into modern money, these are 200 and 500 rubles, respectively.
Please note that today the exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble against the Russian ruble is 1 to 30.57, and the Belarusian ruble to the Russian ruble before the denomination was approximately 0.003057 to 1.
Undoubtedly, the main reason for the denomination, including in Belarus, is the rapid growth of inflation in the country. Although the country's government explains the reform by the fact that the need to reduce the number of zeros by banknotes due to the fact that they are extremely inconvenient to use. In general, the denomination, as the government promises, will not affect the purchasing power of goods and services and will not harm the well-being of the citizens of the republic.
Currency of Belarus before and after denomination
But it is also worth noting that inflation also takes place here, which, in fact, is associated with economic stagnation and the need to carry out internal changes. Although, according to President Lukashenko himself, the country's economy is stable and the renewal of the national currency will not lead to devaluation, which means that the inhabitants of the state have nothing to fear.
Please note that the monetary reform in Belarus is of a technical nature and will not affect purchasing power in any way.
The order on the denomination of the official currency of the Republic of Belarus was signed by the President of the Republic on November 4, 2015, and the reform itself began on July 1, 2016. Approximately six months until the end of 2016 have been allocated for the complete extraction of old banknotes from circulation. Money on the territory of Belarus was withdrawn gradually, that is, citizens could pay both with old banknotes and with new ones, it was possible to exchange the remaining savings in a bank.
The peculiarities of this reform are that before it was carried out, only paper banknotes would be in circulation. And today, residents of Belarus have the opportunity to use coins in denominations of 10.20, 50 kopecks 1 and 2 rubles. Among paper bills banknotes in denominations of 5.10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 rubles today adorn the appearance of the banknote in the cities of Belarus.
It is noteworthy that the monetary reform has been planned since 2009. It was then that the development of the design of new banknotes began. Officially, the version of the denomination appeared in 2014, announced by President Lukashenko during an interview with Belarusian journalists.
The denomination in Belarus in 2016 did not bring any negative consequences for the population. First of all, it should be noted that this monetary reform was really necessary primarily for the common population. In addition, accountants and employees received a great advantage from it. financial sphere. In addition, President Lukashenko himself promised to “tear off the head of everyone who raises prices for goods,” which means that the population of Belarus only benefits from the reform.
To summarize, the monetary reform in Belarus is just changes that are of a technical nature and are not related to the domestic economic crisis, although the inflation rate in the country exceeds the permissible limits, and is 15-18% per year. In any case, the reduction of zeros in the denomination of the monetary unit has greatly facilitated the life of the Belarusians. After all, just imagine, in order to make any major purchase, the inhabitants of the country literally had to carry a bag of money with them, because, as mentioned earlier, the exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble to the ruble before the denomination was 0.003057 to 1.
Less than a week is left before new banknotes will appear in circulation in Belarus and coins will ring. The denomination will pass ("drop" 4 zeros). One hundred rubles will turn into one kopeck, and the largest new banknote 500 rubles will be the equivalent of the old 5 million.
the site decided to remind once again about the ratio of new and old banknotes, until what time banknotes of the 2000 sample will be valid, and also to study visual signs authenticity of new banknotes, so as not to fall for a fake.
It is important to remember that It will be possible to exchange old banknotes for new ones until January 1, 2022!
Stages of denomination:
Until the end of 2016, new and old money are in parallel circulation and are obligatory for acceptance by all business entities when making all types of payments without restrictions. All business entities are required to indicate two prices - in old and new money.
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2021. Old banknotes are exchanged for new ones in any amount without restrictions and without charging a commission: in ATMs, cash desks of banks, trade and service organizations, new banknotes and coins will appear gradually - as the equipment is reprogrammed.
From January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 - at the National Bank, banks and non-banking credit and financial organizations Belarus.
From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021 - at the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.
On the example of a banknote with a face value of 20 rubles
The banknotes are made on special paper with security fibers of blue, red and yellow colours, luminescent in ultraviolet rays, randomly located in it.
1. Watermark. To the left of the main image on the unprinted field there is a local halftone watermark repeating a fragment of the main image of the front side of the banknote.
2. Security thread. Metallized window (diving) type, emerging on the surface of the front side of the banknote in the form of rectangles forming a dotted line. When the banknote is viewed against the light, the security thread looks like a solid dark strip with negative (light) text in the upright and inverted image.
3. Label for visually impaired people. Geometric figures printed in the lower left corner of the front side of the banknote have an increased thickness of the ink layer, due to which they are well perceived by touch.
4. Overlapping image. Fragments of the image of the denomination at the top left on the front and at the top right on the back of the banknotes are aligned to the light, forming a single image of the denomination of banknotes.
5. Latent image. When the banknote is viewed through the light, the image of the ornament printed on the left side of the front side of the banknote shows the image of the banknote denomination. (Except for banknotes of 5, 10 and 20 rubles).
6. Color-shifting ink (OVI). When the banknote is tilted, the banknote denomination figures printed in the upper right corner of the reverse side of the banknote change color. (Only for banknotes of 200 and 500 rubles).
On the obverse (front side) of the coins, the State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus is depicted, on the reverse (back side) - digital designations of coin denominations.
More than two years have passed since the denomination, we almost forgot what the old money looked like, got used to the new size banknotes and almost stopped losing coins from our pockets. As it became known today, the National Bank will order additional printing of new money in the next two years.
Today National Bank announced that in 2019-2020 it will print certain denominations of banknotes and mint some denominations of coins. Yesterday, the president signed special decree No. 380. He amends the previous denominational decree.
The National Bank explains: the service life of banknotes of small denominations is short, so the number old banknotes increased, which means they need to be replaced. 10 rubles suffer the most.
- Starting from October 2017, the receipt of dilapidated banknotes in denominations of 5 and 10 rubles increased by 3 and 2 times, respectively,- explains the regulator. - Since December 2017, the supply of dilapidated 20-ruble banknotes has more than doubled. As for coins, coins of small denominations, primarily 1 and 2 kopecks, are the most in demand. mi and are not returned to the cash desks of the National Bank. At the same time, their issuance from the cash desks of the National Bank is constantly growing.
The regulator notes that, on average, banknotes and coins of small and medium denominations serve from 1 to 3 years.
Recall that the manufacturer Belarusian banknotes- British De La Rue company. Coins were minted at once by two mints - Lithuanian and Slovak. The production of one banknote and a coin took from 1 to 4 euro cents. Whether these companies will print and re-mint Belarusian money is still unknown.
No. The National Bank reassures: it regularly orders the missing banknotes and coins - this is a common practice of the central banks of the world. And this is done in order to provide the economy with cash.
- Additional cash production does not mean an increase money supply, since their release into circulation leads to the transition Money from non-cash form in cash, since banks transfer their non-cash equivalent to the National Bank for the received banknotes,- adds a regulator.
- In world practice, small banknotes are mostly used as change, have a short service life and therefore require constant replacement. Thus, the average life of a banknote of 5 euros is 13 months, banknotes of 1 US dollar - 22 months, banknotes of 50 Russian rubles - 8.3 months,- provides statistics controller.
The National Bank says that in 2019 banknotes in denominations of 5 and 10 rubles will be printed, and in 2020 we will see new twenties and fifties.
The regulator wants the new banknotes to look a little different. Firstly, the images on the front sides of the banknotes will change, their names will be signed.
- Images of architectural structures will be brought into line with the current appearance, - reports the regulator.
Recall that the banknote of five rubles depicts the Kamenets tower, on the 10-ruble note - the Polotsk Transfiguration Church of the Savior, on the twenty - the palace of the Rumyantsevs and Paskeviches and on the fifty - Mir Castle.
Also on the new banknotes there will no longer be the details of the “Foreman Prajlennya” and the facsimile signature of the former chairman of the board, Petr Petrovich Prokopovich. An era is passing. concludes the regulator.
- Banknotes of the 2009 model will remain legal tender,- says the National Bank and promises to describe in detail all their nuances and features before putting new banknotes into circulation.
Recall that now there are 7 denominations of banknotes in circulation - 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 rubles and 8 denominations of coins - 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 kopecks, as well as 1 and 2 Belarusian rubles.
In Belarus (the locals say "Belarus") the Belarusian ruble is in circulation. In mid-February 2017, at the rate of the National Bank of the Republic, 100 Russian rubles cost a little less than 3.5 Belarusian rubles. The exchange rate of the US dollar against the local currency at the same time was 1.97.
People call Belarusian money “bunnies”. In the 1990s, representatives of the local fauna were depicted on the first banknotes of independent Belarus, and there was a hare on the ruble bill. Now have Belarusian money not the first year new design, but the colloquial name has remained.
It is best to travel from Russia to Belarus with Russian rubles, and already in the country of arrival, change it to the local currency. This is advised by travel sites and people who have already visited the republic. The main reasons for this are as follows:
Belarus also conducts a free exchange american dollars or euro. But, of course, it is not worth buying these currencies specifically for the subsequent acquisition of "bunnies" - this is both unprofitable and unnecessary.
In addition to cash, it is worth taking with you to Belarus plastic card. If you have a card from one of the international payment systems, you can freely pay in many shops and restaurants. In major cities, cards are accepted almost everywhere.
It doesn't matter what currency your card is issued in: Russian rubles, dollars or euros. You can just go with your "salary". You will make a purchase in Belarusian rubles, and your bank will deduct the amount in the currency of your account. Moreover, the conversion will take place at a preferential rate.
In addition, with the help Visa cards or MasterCard, you can exchange your "card" money for Belarusian rubles at local ATMs or cash points. Again, at a favorable rate. But pay attention: there is usually a commission for withdrawing money from a “non-native” ATM. Therefore, it makes sense to immediately cash out an impressive amount, and not a couple of hundred rubles.
Please note: if the card is a credit card, then a cash withdrawal fee will be required. And it's usually pretty big. Therefore, use a credit card only for settlements in the trading network, and go to an ATM with a debit card.
Knowledgeable tourists recommend sharing the money that you plan to take with you when traveling to Belarus. Put the main amount on plastic debit card so that you can then conveniently pay and withdraw money from it. And for small expenses, immediately upon arrival in the republic, purchase Belarusian rubles.
And it is better not to buy "bunnies" too much. If you do not have time to spend them during the trip, you will have to go to the exchanger with them again before leaving. And in Russia it will be much more difficult to sell Belarusian money.
In conclusion - advice from experienced travelers. Sometimes it is better if you already have some cash in your pocket when you arrive in the country. local currency. Just in case. Even if you are going to "fraternal" Belarus.
There will be no problem if you arrive by train or plane. At major railway stations and airports, you will be able to exchange Russian money for Belarusian, usually even at night.
But it is a completely different matter if you are traveling by car. And now, when the border of the two countries is crossed, some difficulty arises. For example, drinking water runs out, gasoline runs out, or a car gets stuck. And you are in countryside, where cards are not accepted and there are no exchangers.
To pay off where-Russian rubles will not work. Dollars or euros - too. Well, if you only agree with someone privately. Therefore, if you manage to buy some "bunnies" before a trip to Belarus - buy it.
For the second time in the history of the country's independence, a denomination was announced, and, consequently, new money was put into circulation. In Belarus, which is already accustomed to living in a world of millionaires, such changes have created a real sensation. Even after six months after the announcement of the denomination, when the old money must finally be withdrawn from circulation, many continue to count as they have been accustomed to for many years. So, what are they - new
Let's start with the fact that samples of the new money of Belarus were developed long before they were put into circulation - the banknotes themselves were already printed in 2009 and locked in secure vaults. As part of the denomination, four zeros were cut off, that is, if in the old banknotes the minimum denomination was one hundred rubles, now it is one kopeck.
For Belarusians who had not previously used coins, such innovations were not a very pleasant surprise: not only did they have to change wallets (after all, there were no special compartments in old purses), but also automatic machines, ATMs and other machines that used to accept 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 new money, but more on that later.
Yes, the new money in Belarus, unlike the old ones, is more reminiscent of European than Soviet. Moreover, denominated rubles (namely, that was what they called in the country new currency at a time when it still coexisted with the old money) was even criticized for being too similar to the euro.
A separate plus was that Belarus retained the concept of depicting historical buildings on new banknotes, however, now, with a reduction in the number of denominations paper money, some attractions had to be abandoned. Each region of the republic is immortalized on banknotes, and not only famous places were chosen as symbols, but also those whose image evokes positive associations among Belarusians.
Of course, there were those who wanted to see completely different new money in Belarus. A photo options banknotes appeared on the Internet even a year before the denomination. Many proposed to put famous Belarusians on the portraits, but they disagreed about who exactly deserves to represent the country on its banknotes: some turned to the fighters for the Belarusian statehood, others to the rulers of different eras, and others to scientists and artists.
Another interesting concept that never came to fruition is the use of images of vintage household items and jewelry to remind people of their roots. The third option suggested reorienting the banknotes, that is, making them not as 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 into 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.
Before the release into circulation, no one could say what the new money would be in Belarus. It was known that new security technologies were used in their manufacture, which would make counterfeiting almost impossible. Special signs in the form of geometric shapes were placed on the banknotes, by which visually impaired people could recognize denominations. In addition, a special method of strengthening the corners was used, thanks to which the banknotes will be more resistant to abrasion, which could not be said about the money of the old sample. Another difference is the change in the pattern: not abstract patterns are visible in the light, but the building depicted on the bill. From the traditional, the following has been preserved in the way the new money of Belarus looks like: firmware with a special tape with an embossed abbreviation NBRB (National Bank of the Republic of Belarus). This is also aimed at improving the security of the banknote against counterfeiting.
But the most expected and anticipated 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 two-ruble - silver with a wide gold edging; applied ornaments denote freedom and will).
At the same time, despite the originality and unusualness, even today, six months after the introduction of new coins, it is difficult to say what these samples of new money of Belarus will look like in five to ten years. The fact is that coins of small denominations are made so unsuccessfully that it is difficult to see what is written on them even for a young person, not like for someone who does not see well. In addition, the denominations wear out very quickly, and the small coins themselves corrode. As for the two-ruble coins, which the republic is so proud of, it turned out that when not very strong 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.
Yes, the time has already passed when people wondered what new money would be in Belarus. Photos of price tags that did not contain the usual zeros, at first incomprehensible recalculations between old and new money, which baffled even those who are good with mathematics - all this has already subsided.
From January 1, 2017, six months after the official introduction of banknotes of the 2009 model (which is why the adjective “new” sounds so paradoxically 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 obsolete monetary units and finally get used to how the new money of Belarus looks like.
What changed when new money appeared in Belarus? Photos of banknotes immediately after the denomination flooded the Internet, for which a flurry of jokes fell upon the country about long-forgotten banknotes with images of animals, popularly called “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 the entire salary in a few banknotes.
When there were talks about what new money would be in Belarus, the photo of the banknote, the denomination of which is equivalent to $50, was surprising, let alone the banknotes equal to $100 and $250 (however, it should be noted that the latter are inaccessible to the general population). For people who are used to the fact that “two rubles” (namely, 2000 old rubles used to be called that) is a tenth of a dollar, now the stable “dollar - two rubles” sounds a bit even encouraging. In addition, due to the confusion with prices (especially during the period when it was possible to pay and receive change with both new and old money), the state was able to raise them imperceptibly for the population. It is easier to say that the new money in Belarus, despite the fact that it pleased the eye, brought more difficulties and problems. And perhaps this is all a temporary phenomenon that will disappear when the state finally gets rid of old money in its mind.
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 issued them stood up for.
