Ukrainian shah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shah (Ukrainian: шаг) was the name of multiple currencies historically used in the Eastern European country of Ukraine. The name derives from shilling via shelyag (sheleg; Russian: шеляг, шелег; Polish: szeląg). In the English language numismatics and philately, one may see the incorrect name shahiv, resulting from transliterations of the declensional usages of the noun in denominations, e.g., 20 shahiv (20 шагiв) for 20 shahs.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early usage
The term "shah" was the Ukrainian name of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's silver coin of 17th-18th centuries with face value of 3 grosz, coined since 1528, especially during the times of Sigismund III Vasa. Later, the name was transferred to the Russian copper coin of 2 kopecks. Since 1839 when silver money counting was reinstated in the Russian Empire, the term shah was transferred to the silver ½ kopeck. This term for the kopeck was in use until 1917.
[edit] 20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century, during World War I (1914—1918), many countries issued currency in the form of stamps. It was done similarly in early independent Ukrainian states: in West Ukrainian National Republic and Ukrainian People's Republic. There, these money stamps were called shahivki (шагiвки, singular: шагiвка, shahivka).
One-hundred shahs were equal to 1 hryvnia. Stamps of 10, 20, 30, 40, 40 shahs were issued.
These shahivki were printed on perforated 11 ½ card stock, due to a shortage of metals needed for the war effort at the time. Each currency stamp was inscribed on the reverse with a tryzub (trident) and with some words stating that these shahivki circulate in lieu of coins and that they are prohibited to be used as stamps. However, they do appear on some postal envelopes as there was an acute deficiency of "true" stamps. Nevertheless, on July 18, 1918, the independent Ukrainian government authorized its first set of stamp issues, also called shahivki and having nearly identical designs.
The 10 and 20-shah stamps issues of Ukrainian People's Republic were designed by the artist Anton Sereda and the 30, 40, and 50-shah stmps by Heorhiy Narbut, a master graphic artist and president of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts in Kiev.
In 1992, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union after which the newly independent Ukraine had to choose its currency, trial runs of coins of 1 shah and 50 shahs were issued, but were not approved. Therefore, the kopiyka (копійка) was confirmed as a numismatic term for Ukrainian currency, despite nationalistic sentiments that kopiyka (or kopeyka) it is a Russian term.
[edit] See also
- Ukrainian hryvnia, the national currency of Ukraine since 1996
- Ukrainian karbovanets, currency of Ukraine during three separate periods
- Economy of Ukraine
[edit] External links
- Chernoivanenko, Vitaliy. History of paper money in Ukraine (1917-1920) in Zerkalo Nedeli, September 22-28, 2001. Available in Russian and Ukrainian
- History of Ukrainian money in Zerkalo Nedeli, September 2-8, 2006. Available in Russian and Ukrainian
- The Ukrainian Philatelic and Numismatic Society - Introduction to Ukrainian Philately
