North Azerbaijan was incorporated into the Russian Empire in 1828 (while all of South Azerbaijan was absorbed into the Qajar empire). Russian currency became the new regional standard for the Caucasus. In 1860, Russia opened the State Bank of the Russian empire, with a regional branch in the Azerbaijani city of Baku. The new bank standardized the regional economy and encouraged trade. The new bank in Azerbaijan became the blueprint for the current monetary system.
Azerbaijan’s
historic coinage reflects the nation's complex political history, from
ancient times to the modern day. At the historic crossroads between Europe,
Asia, and the Middle East, the design and format of Azerbaijani coins and
currency have been greatly influenced by frequent invasions and political
upheaval in the region. Hellenic, Roman, Parthian, Persian, Arabic, Turkic,
and Russian influences can be seen throughout nearly 3,000 years of coinage.
Today, Azerbaijan’s coinage reflects the diverse history and culture of
the country.
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