The hryvnia, sometimes hryvnya or grivna (Ukrainian: гривня) has been the national currency of Ukraine since September 2, 1996. The hryvnia is subdivided into 100 kopiyok. In medieval times, it was a currency of Kievan Rus'.
The currency of Kievan Rus' in the eleventh century was called grivna. The word is thought to derive from the Slavic griva; c.f. Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian грива / griva, meaning "mane". It may have indicated something valuable worn around the neck, usually made of silver or gold; c.f. Bulgarian and Serbian grivna (гривна, "bracelet").
Obverse: Ivan Franko (Ukrainian poet,
writer, and political activist)
Reverse: The Lviv Opera Theater
Many thanks to Ratko S. from Croatia.
