Money Museum Groshi, Minsk

This was so much more interesting than I expected! Valeria gave us an outstanding tour of the collection's highlights (her English is amazing), which includes bills from around the world, but primarily focuses on the currency of Belarus and surrounding countries. This is not just about money though, it's really about the history, culture, and politics of the interactions of countries and regimes. For instance, you can see notes from German occupied territories during WW2, or the coupons that Belarus used immediately after the end of the USSR to pair with USSR bills before they were able to make their own currency. The displays require context, so definitely make sure you get a guided tour, which is available any time. (It's generally not that crowded.) Thank you to the private owner of this collection for making it public and sharing it with the world!

What a fascinating museum! I wasn't sure what to expect but the guide quickly pulled us in as she shared her amazing knowledge of the many, many different types of money from around the world. It was exciting to see how money has changed over time throughout the centuries. The owner had just recently purchased many historic United States currency from our federal reserve banks. These are bills I've never seen in the Unites States. He even allowed me to hold the gold and silver back bills. Thank you! I'm so glad I visited. This is definitely worth the time. My daughter is traveling to Minsk and I told her to be sure to visit the museum. Don't miss it!