UAH is the designation of the Ukrainian hryvnia. Currency belongs to the category of "soft currencies", which also includes currencies of developing countries. Until 1996, monetary transactions were carried out on the territory of the country by karbovans, and only thanks to the 1996 reform, the Ukrainian national currency, the hryvnia, entered circulation.
This name is enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine. Over the course of 18 years, the National Bank of Ukraine has carried out 18 issues. Now there are nine denominations of the hryvnia in circulation: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 UAH.
About coins and banknotes
The bargaining chip for UAH is a penny, which is one hundredth of the hryvnia. There are 6 denominations in use: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 kopecks. An additional 1 hryvnia coin was introduced into circulation. The obverse of the coins contains the name of the state, coat of arms, year of minting and floral ornament. On the reverse there is an ornament and a face value. Since 2004, the 1 hryvnia coin of the 1995 sample has been replaced by a coin with the image of Vladimir the Great. In 2013, coins with a denomination of 50 kopecks underwent changes, which today are made from low-carbon steel.
Coins with denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 125, 200, 250, 500 hryvnia are issued as jubilee and commemorative coins. Investment coins are also minted: 2, 5, 10, 20 hryvnia - gold, 1 hryvnia - silver. An interesting fact is that the first Ukrainian coins were produced at the Mint of England and at the Lugansk Cartridge Plant.
Each front side of the banknote depicts portraits of great figures of Ukraine from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The hryvnia is united with the Russian ruble by such a historical person as Yaroslav the Wise, whose portrait is placed for 1000 rubles and 2 hryvnias.
The reverse side of the hryvnia contains the inscription "National Bank of Ukraine", architectural motives, ornament and coat of arms.
Where does the hryvnia symbol come from?
The hryvnia symbol is a handwritten version of the Cyrillic sign "g". Two horizontal lines symbolize stability, a similar element is found in the designation of the Japanese yen and the euro. The graphic symbol on a number of banknotes is a security element, the light watermark is recognizable on the 1 and 500 hryvnia bills of 2006 and 200 hryvnia in 2007.
Authenticity check of hryvnia
The Ukrainian hryvnia has a number of protective elements that ensure its safety. The watermark repeats the image of the portrait located on the front side of the bill, viewed against the light. The protective tape is completely immersed in the depth of the paper, viewed against the light. Banknotes with denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 hryvnia have a tape in the form of a magnetic code of the denomination, a banknote of 1 hryvnia - magnetic pieces. Security fibers are randomly placed on the surface and in the thickness of the paper on both sides of the banknote. In addition to the above-described security measures, the hryvnia contains through elements, microtext, rainbow printing, anti-scanner mesh, infrared and magnetic protection.
