Microstates : 21 Republic of Transnistria / Pridnestrovia

I'm sure, each collector has a Transnistrian note in her/his collection, and the name 'Transnistria' is probably known too.
But what is Transnistria or Pridnestrovia, where is it and is it even a country?

First of all, Transnistria exists, it is a region in eastern Europe, a small, narrow strip of land, in Moldavia, close to the Ukrainian border.

Transnistria in Moldavia

Although the region declared itself independent from Moldovia, it is only recognised by three - also not recognised 'countries', as Abkhazia (Georgia), Artsakh or Nagorno-Karabach (Azerbaijan) and South-Ossetia (Georgia). The region is located beyond the Dnietster river : "trans - Dniester".
The area covers about 500,000 people.
Although it has a certain independency from the Moldavian gouvernment, it remains a strange bird in the region.

The Transnistrian notes look more like monopoly currency, and there is a wide range of notes and face values.
Due to high inflation, notes went from 1 ruble to 500,000 rubles between 1994 and 1997.
Nearly all notes show the image of count Alexander Suvorov, a highly decorated field marshal and 4th generalissimo of the Russian empire. (let's say, the highest possible military rank)
In 2000, the money was replaced to a new type of ruble, replacing 1,000,000 of the old rubles.
At first, metal coins were used. And in 2014 a new - world shocking -  coinset was introduced .... plastic coins.

composite coins from Transnistria

The 'coins' are made of composite material and nearly unbreakable, although only 1.2 mm thick and only 1 gram of weight.
The lowes denomination is one ruble, a round coin. On the front is Alexander Suvorov, and on the back, the Transnistrian republican bank, and the year of issue (here 2014).
The 3 ruble coin is square, with rounded edges. Here we see the belgian François Sainte de Wollant, a Flemish nobleman and engineer, who is known for some fortifications in Russia. A park in Transnistria is named after him. On the back we see the same symbols as on the 1 ruble coin.

1 and 3 Transnistrian ruble 'coins'

The third coin is a 5 ruble coin, a pentagonal shaped coin, with an image of Pjotr Alexandrovich Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky, a Russian general from the 18th century. The back side is similar to the other coins.
Finally a 10 ruble coin, hexagonally shaped, with the Russian Empress Catharina II on the front side.

5 and 10 Transnistrian ruble 'coins'

These coins are a unicum in coin world, but maybe a cheaper way to produce coins.
Although more plastic in the environment is probablly also not a good idea.
I read that the local people are not really keen on their plastic coins. Meanwhile there are also new paper notes in circulation too.
Oh, the Transnistrian rubles are not accepted outside Transnistria, except for a couple of buscompanies who travel across the 'border' with Moldavia.