
The hryvnya is Ukraine's official currency, and it's been a staple in the country's economy since 1996. It's divided into 100 subunits called kopiykas.
The hryvnya was introduced as a replacement for the Ukrainian karbovanets, which was used during the Soviet era. This changeover was a significant step towards Ukraine's economic independence.
In 2004, Ukraine implemented a new hryvnya banknote design, featuring prominent Ukrainians such as writers and artists. These new notes were a welcome change from the older designs.
The hryvnya's value is determined by the foreign exchange market, with the Ukrainian National Bank playing a key role in maintaining stability.
Currency Details
The hryvnia is the national currency of Ukraine, adopted by the country's government in 1996.
It's subdivided into 100 kopiykas, which is a useful fact to know if you're ever dealing with Ukrainian currency.
The hryvnia is abbreviated as UAH in the foreign exchange market, a shorthand that's widely used by traders and investors.
The National Bank of Ukraine, the country's central bank, is responsible for maintaining financial stability and the country's economic development, which includes managing the currency.
The hryvnia sign is a unique symbol that represents the currency, featuring a cursive Ukrainian letter He with a double horizontal stroke.
If you don't have access to the hryvnia sign, you can use the Cyrillic abbreviation "грн." instead, which is a common backup option in Ukraine.
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Ukraine's Hryvnia
The Ukraine hryvnia, also known as UAH, is the official currency of Ukraine. It's a bit of a complex history, but the hryvnia was introduced in 1996, replacing the karbovanets at a rate of 100,000 karbovanets to one hryvnia.
The currency is managed by the National Bank of Ukraine, which also prints and issues banknotes and coins. As of October 2022, there were ₴677.7 billion in circulation. Banknotes are printed in denominations of ₴10, ₴20, ₴50, ₴100, ₴200, and ₴500.
The hryvnia is not pegged to another currency, which means its value can fluctuate freely on the foreign exchange markets.
Coinage
The Ukraine Hryvnia's coinage system has undergone significant changes since its introduction in 1992. Initially, coins valued between 1 and 50 kopiyky were issued.
The first coins were struck in 1992, but they weren't introduced until September 1996. The National Bank of Ukraine managed the production and circulation of these coins.
Initially, coins valued between 1 and 50 kopiyky were issued. The 1 kopiyka coin, for example, was made of stainless steel and had a plain edge.
The 2 kopiyky coin was made of aluminum until 2001, when it was switched to stainless steel. It had a diameter of 17.30 mm and a mass of 0.64 g.
The 5 kopiyok coin was made of stainless steel and had a reeded edge. It was introduced in 1992 and remained in circulation until 2015.
In 2012, the National Bank of Ukraine announced that it was examining the possibility of withdrawing the 1 and 2 kopiyky coins from circulation. After 2013, 1 and 2 kopiyky coins were not produced, but remained in circulation until 1 October 2019.
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The 10 kopiyok coin is still in circulation and is made of brass or aluminum bronze, depending on the year of production. It has a reeded edge and a diameter of 16.3 mm.
In 2018, a new design of the 1 hryvnia coin was introduced, made of nickel-plated steel and featuring a reeded edge. The coin has a diameter of 18.9 mm and a mass of 3.3 g.
Here is a list of the coins of the Ukrainian Hryvnia:
Banknotes
The hryvnia, Ukraine's national currency, has a rich history and a wide range of banknotes in circulation. The first series of hryvnia banknotes was introduced in 1996 by the National Bank of Ukraine.
These banknotes were dated 1992 and came in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 hryvnias. The design of the banknotes was developed by Ukrainian artists Vasyl Lopata and Borys Maksymov.
The first series of banknotes included denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 hryvnias. The Canadian Bank Note Company printed the 1 hryvnia banknotes in 1992, while the 2, 5, and 10 hryvnia banknotes were printed two years later.
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Banknotes of the first series in denominations of 50 and 100 hryvnias also existed but were not introduced because they were not needed during the economic crisis of the mid-1990s.
The second series of hryvnia banknotes was introduced in 1996, with denominations of 1, 50, and 100 hryvnias. The 1 hryvnia note was dated 1994, and the banknotes were designed and printed by Britain's De La Rue.
Higher denominations of hryvnia banknotes were introduced later, including the 200 hryvnia notes of the second series in 2001, the 500 hryvnia notes of the third series in 2006, and the 1000 hryvnia notes of the fourth series in 2019.
The 100 hryvnia denomination is quite common due to its moderately high value. Most Ukrainian ATMs dispense currency in the 200 and 500 hryvnia denominations, making them common as well.
The hryvnia banknotes are printed by the National Bank of Ukraine, which also manages the currency. The banknotes are made from a special paper that is produced by the NBU paper factory, which started using flax instead of cotton in 2016.
Here's a list of the hryvnia banknotes that are currently in circulation:
- 1 hryvnia
- 2 hryvnias
- 5 hryvnias
- 10 hryvnias
- 20 hryvnias
- 50 hryvnias
- 100 hryvnias
- 200 hryvnias
- 500 hryvnias
- 1000 hryvnias
Note that the 50 hryvnia banknote was revised in 2019, and the 200 hryvnia banknote was revised in 2020.
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Ukraine Hryvnia
The Ukraine Hryvnia is the national currency of Ukraine, introduced in 1996 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It replaced the karbovanets at a rate of 100,000 karbovanets to one hryvnia due to hyperinflation.
The hryvnia is printed and managed by the National Bank of Ukraine, the country's central bank. As of October 2022, there were ₴677.7 billion in circulation.
Coins were first struck for the new currency in 1992, but were not introduced until September 1996. Initially, coins valued between 1 and 50 kopiyky were issued.
The National Bank of Ukraine minted coins in one, two, five, 10, 25, and 50 denominations. The first three of these coins ceased to be legal tender as of January 10, 2019.
Here are some key facts about the Ukraine Hryvnia:
The hryvnia is not pegged to another currency, giving Ukraine some flexibility in its economic policies.
Exchange and Security
The hryvnia has had its fair share of ups and downs, particularly when it comes to exchange rates. In 1998, the Asian financial crisis led to a devaluation of the currency, dropping from UAH 1.76 per USD to UAH 5.6 per USD in February 2000.
One of the most significant devaluations occurred in 2008, with the hryvnia dropping 38.4% from UAH 4.85 per USD to UAH 7.88 per USD in just a few months. This was largely due to the global financial crisis that hit Ukraine hard.
To combat this, a new peg of 8 hryvnias per US dollar was established, remaining for several years. However, in 2012, the peg was changed to a managed float, similar to the Chinese yuan.
Here's a brief overview of the hryvnia's exchange rate fluctuations:
In recent years, the hryvnia has continued to fluctuate, reaching a record low of UAH 33 per USD in February 2015.
Exchange Rates
The exchange rate of the Ukrainian hryvnia has been a wild ride over the years. In 1996, the official exchange rate was set at UAH 1.76 per USD 1, but it quickly devalued to UAH 5.6 = USD 1.00 in February 2000.
One of the most significant devaluations occurred in 2008, when the hryvnia dropped 38.4% from UAH 4.85 for USD 1 on 23 September to UAH 7.88 for USD 1 on 19 December.
The exchange rate remained relatively stable for a few years, but then it started to fluctuate wildly again. In 2012, the peg was changed to a managed float, and the value of the hryvnia in mid-2012 was about 8.14 UAH per dollar.
The hryvnia continued to lose value in 2014 and 2015, dropping about 70% of its value against the U.S. dollar. By early 2016, 1 US dollar was worth about 26 hryvnia, and by the end of 2017, nearly 28 hryvnia.
Here's a brief overview of the exchange rate fluctuations:
Protection from Forgery
Protection from forgery is a top priority, and it's achieved through clever design. Watermarks, for instance, show the small state coat-of-arms of Ukraine - the trident - which can be seen if you hold the bill up to the light.
The counterfeiter's worst nightmare is the counterfeiter protection stripe, a narrow strip a millimeter wide with the inscription "Ukraina" that's visible when held against the light on bills of 50 and 100 hryvnyas.

Embossed patterns elements are found on all the bills except the one in denomination of 1 hryvnya, making them detectable to the touch of fingertips.
The interlocking pattern, visible at the face and back sides, forms a unity if viewed against the light, making it a clever anti-counterfeiting feature.
The rainbow effect print creates a mesmerizing effect as one colour of the lines of the counterfeit protection grill pattern gradually gives way to another, making it nearly impossible to replicate.
The antiscanner grill pattern is a net of very thin lines placed at different angles to each other, and any attempt at copying the bill makes them blurred, giving away the fake.
Code patterns are also present, featuring a trident on 2, 5, 10, and 20 hryvnya bills, and numerals showing the denomination on 50 and 100 hryvnya bills, which can be seen if held at the height of the eyes against the light and turned sideways at 45 degrees.
Ukraine's Economic Crisis Deepens
The hryvnya, Ukraine's currency, has lost significant value since 2014, with inflation reaching 13% in 2022.
The economic crisis has led to a decline in Ukraine's GDP, which contracted by 6.8% in 2022.
The country's trade deficit has also widened, reaching $3.5 billion in 2022.
Ukraine's economic troubles have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with Russia, which has disrupted trade and investment.
The hryvnya's value has been volatile, with a significant devaluation in 2015, when it lost 40% of its value against the US dollar.
The economic crisis has had a devastating impact on Ukraine's population, with many struggling to make ends meet.
Ukraine's government has implemented austerity measures to try to stabilize the economy, but the crisis continues to deepen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What symbol is this ₴?
The hryvnia symbol is ₴, a unique combination of a cursive Ukrainian letter and a double horizontal stroke. It shares similarities with other currency symbols like the yen, euro, and rupee.
How do you pronounce Ukrainian hryvnia?
The Ukrainian hryvnia is pronounced as "hrih-VEE-nyah" with a soft "h" and emphasis on the second syllable. Learn how to correctly pronounce Ukrainian names and currency with our helpful guide.
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