Useful information about Batumi and Georgia
The national currency of Georgia
Georgia has its own national currency. This one has two components: tetri (penny) and lari (currency of 100 tetri).
Some foreigners think that & laquo; lari & raquo; it's short for the famous & laquo; dol-lar & raquo; with Georgian ending & laquo; and & raquo ;. However, the word & laquo; lari & raquo; from Old Georgian, spoken from colloquial speech, it means & laquo; stock & raquo ;, & laquo; property & raquo ;. The term & laquo; tetri & raquo; also is monetary, so called coins of ancient Colchis. & laquo; Tetri & raquo; in modern Georgian, it means & laquo; white & raquo ;. Perhaps Colchis ’tetri & raquo; were silver coins.
Despite the fact that most payments can be made non-cash, payment by banknotes and coins is still in progress. Moreover, some small merchants accept credit card payments only above a certain amount.
In cash there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50,100, 200 lari, and 1 and 2 laris coins are also in use. Foreign currency can be exchanged for Georgian Lari at banks and specialized exchange points.
On the front side of the banknotes are depicted outstanding political and creative figures. The graphic symbol for the lari resembles the letter & laquo; L & raquo; Georgian alphabet ლ.