The Adventure of Georgian Money – 30 Stories

Money is neither good nor bad – it is a mirror that reflects society. It mirrors social hierarchy and mobility, serves as an instrument of creativity and freedom, and forms part of culture and identity.

In the 1990s, when the country was still recovering from the shock of war, collapse, and hyperinflation, a new symbol emerged – the Georgian Lari. It was not merely paper or metal currency, but one of the most significant declarations of Georgia’s independence. Today, the Lari is more than 30 years old!

Today, at the Ilia Chavchavadze State Museum in Kvareli, we are presenting a joint initiative of the National Bank of Georgia and Caucasus International University: a series of short popular science documentaries exploring the 26-century history of Georgian money.

The documentary series explores:

• The issuance and circulation of local and foreign currencies in Georgia;
• Georgia’s numismatic heritage;
• The establishment and development of financial institutions;
• The key stages of the country’s economic development.

The project aims to systematise financial history of Georgia and present it to a wide audience in an accessible, popular science format. It represents the first attempt to showcase the centuries-old history of Georgian numismatics in an audiovisual format, drawing on reliable, historically documented sources.

We believe that this project will make a significant contribution to the development of financial literacy and raising public awareness.

The media project was implemented within the framework of the Grant Competition for the Popularisation of Science, with full funding from Caucasus International University and taking into account the recommendations of the National Bank of Georgia.

Project Manager: Professor Nino Chalaganishvili, Vice-Chancellor of the University;

Project Idea Author and Creative Team Leader: Associate Professor Sulkhan Meladze.