Lari (GEL). Georgian Currency

Currency

Lari (GEL) = 100 tetri. Notes are in denominations of GEL100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2 GEL and 50, 20, 10, 5 Tetri.

Currency Exchange

Euros and US Dollars can be exchanged at special exchange shops, found throughout Tbilisi, while other currencies must be exchanged in banks. Cash is the preferred method of payment, and visitors are advised to carry notes in small denominations. Visitors are also advised to carry US Dollars in cash. Euros are also in use. There is unlikely to be a substantial difference between rates offered by banks or bureaux de change.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

Credit cards are accepted in certain hotels, restaurants and shops in Tbilisi. ATMs are available all over the country.
Banking Hours Mon-Fri 0900-1700, sat 1000-1400.

Currency restrictions:

The import and export of local or foreign currency is unrestricted. However, amounts exceeding GEL30,000 or equivalent must be declared.

Lari:

The name lari is an old Georgian word denoting a hoard, property, while tetri is an old Georgian monetary term (meaning ‘white’) used in ancient Colchis from the 8th century BC.

In the project designed for the council of ministers academician Vasil Chantladze nominated “Lari” as name of a national currency unit in 1991, but the cash turnover began on 2^nd of October in 1995, when the national bank was allowed to release banknotes on the Georgian territory. The council of the national bank determines and affirms the design of “lari’s” banknotes and coins.

On the front cover there are Georgian legends on each value of the banknote: “Georgia”, “The national bank of Georgia”, meaning of the value, the signatures of the president of the national bank of Georgia and of the minister of finance, date and seven-arm Borjgali, on the reverse side there are English legends: “Georgia” and the meaning of the value.

On the banknotes are pictured:

1 lari banknote – niko firosmani

2 lari banknote -Zakaria Faliashvili

5 lari banknote – Ivane Javaxishvili

10 lari banknote – Akaki Tsereteli

20 lari banknote – Ilia Chavchavadze

50 lari banknote – KING Tamar

100 lari banknote – Shota Rustaveli

200 lari banknote – Qaqutsa Cholokashvili

Extremly small amount of 500 lari, (on which david agmashenebeli is pictured) banknotes was released first in 1995 an later in 2011, but both attempts to launch it were unsuccessful.

The Lari sign is based on an arched letter ლ (Lasi) of the Georgian script. It is common in international common practice for a currency sign to consist of a letter, crossed by one or two parallel lines. Two parallel lines crossing the letter Lasi are the basic components of the Lari sign. The so-called “leg” of the letter, represented by a horizontal line, is a necessary attribute of the sign, adding monumental stability to the upper dynamic arc. The form of the letter is transformed in order to simplify its perception and implementation as a Lari sign.

The author of the winning sign is a professional artist-ceramist, Malkhaz Shvelidze.

On 18 July 2014, Giorgi Melashvili, executive director of the National Bank of Georgia sent a request letter to the Unicode Consortium, to register the symbol in the Currency Symbols block

Lari sign ₾

In 2016 the national bank of Georgia released renewed banknotes of lari. 20, 50 and 100 lari banknotes were launched gradually and is in turnover with the old banknotes. This is the first important change in the 20 year history of the design of banknotes. The author of the design of renewed banknotes is bacha malazonia. 

UPGRADED LARI BANKNOTES
Upgraded banknotes in denomination of 5 lari have been issued into circulation since 01 September 2017

Upgraded banknotes in denominations of 20 and 50 Lari have been in circulation since 01 February 2016 and upgraded banknotes in denomination of 100 Lari - since 01 November 2016.