Case of fake money (Batumi - beginning of XX century)

The production of currency has historically been subject to rigorous control mechanisms aimed at ensuring its quality, maintaining its value, and preventing counterfeiting. The phenomenon of currency falsification dates back to antiquity and gained significant momentum in the 20th century, particularly during the First and Second World Wars. Nearly all nations engaged in the strategic counterfeiting of enemy currencies, seeking to destabilize opposing economies through the introduction of forged banknotes into circulation. In certain instances, countries even extended such operations to include the currencies of their allies. In the second half of the 19th century, Batumi’s role as a trade and transit city led to a diversity of currencies from different countries. The rapid development of free trade and monetary systems also contributed to the print and the circulation of counterfeit money. Documents preserved in the Ajara Archival Department provide valuable information on this issue.