Who is pictured on Georgian lari banknotes?
Writers, poets, a queen and heroes on Georgia's money.
Short answer
Lari banknotes feature notable Georgians: scholar Ivane Javakhishvili on 5 lari, poet Akaki Tsereteli on 10, writer Ilia Chavchavadze on 20, Queen Tamar on 50, poet Shota Rustaveli on 100 and Kakutsa Cholokashvili, a hero of the 1920s independence struggle, on 200. The 1 and 2 lari denominations now circulate as coins.
Why
- Banknotes are issued by the National Bank of Georgia, and newer series have extra security features.
- The lari was introduced in 1995 and is divided into 100 tetri.
- Ivane Javakhishvili founded Tbilisi State University.
Details
Small shops aren't always keen to change a 200 lari note, so use it in larger stores. Any bank can check whether a note is genuine.
Tip
The 1 and 2 lari coins look similar in size to large tetri coins, so check the value before paying.
What may differ
Common misconception
What actually happens
People also ask
- Who is on the 100 lari note?
Sources
- National Bank of GeorgiaChecked at:
Information checked on October 3, 2026.
Georgian Lari: History and Meaning of the National CurrencyRelated questions
-
How do you receive a transfer from abroad to a Georgian account?
You can receive money from abroad by bank transfer to your IBAN, through a system such as Western Union, or via Visa+ by phone number to a TBC card.
-
What is a Georgian IBAN and where do you find it?
A Georgian IBAN has 22 characters: the country code GE, two check digits, two letters of the bank code and 16 digits of the account identifier assigned by the bank.
-
How can you top up a card or pay a bill at a terminal in Georgia?
Utilities, mobile, internet, television and state services in Georgia are paid at payment terminals: the TBC Pay network has more than 4,000 terminals and over 1,000 services.
-
Where can you exchange damaged or old lari banknotes?
Worn and damaged lari banknotes and coins are replaced free at face value at the National Bank of Georgia and commercial banks if they still meet the fitness criteria.