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The Ural franc (Уральский франк) was a scrip issued in Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg) in Russia in 1991 by a team of businessmen and politicians headed by Anton Bakov.
In the 1990s the former USSR structures were collapsing and undergoing large-scale transformations and stresses. In 1991 the future of Russian state was uncertain and an idea for separate money was reasonable to maintain local economics, but was never implemented.
In 1993 there was a short-lived project of Ural Republic at the same area. Nowadays it is widely thought that Francs were made for it. It is denied by involved people, primarily Bakov who participated in both: separate currency other than Russian Ruble was generally illegal by that time.
But the banknotes were later used as money substitute in 1997–2000 at the "city-forming" Serov Metallurgical Plant in the northern Sverdlovsk Oblast's town of Serov, where Bakov served as director.
The notes, all 145 × 80 mm, came in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 francs (франков). [1] [2] [3] They were made according to sketches by architect Sophia Demidova [4] at the Goznak factory in Perm city. Nowadays they have numismatic value and are exhibited in museums.
In 2021, to mark Ural franc's 30th anniversary, its creator Anton Bakov issued a silver coin also called Ural franc. 500 coins were issued weighing 20 grams each. [5] They are supposed to be of interest for numismatics and are not intended to be launched as money as this is illegal in Russia. However, Bakov has assigned them a cryptocurrency status within the Binance blockchain network with the token Uralfranc [6] and declared that he might issue more coins if there is a demand. The coin features a hand-drawn portrait of Bogdashko Toporok, a supposed 17th century ancestor of Bakov.
The Congolese franc is the currency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is subdivided into 100 centimes. However, centimes no longer have a practical value and are no longer used. In April 2022, 2,000 francs was equivalent to US$1.
The som is the currency of Kyrgyzstan.
The Djiboutian franc is the currency of Djibouti. Its ISO 4217 currency code is DJF. Historically, it was subdivided into 100 centimes.
The franc is the official currency of Comoros. It is nominally subdivided into 100 centimes, although no centime denominations have ever been issued.

Serov is a mining and commercial town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the eastern foothills of the Ural Mountains, on the left bank of the Kakva River, about 350 kilometers (220 mi) north of Yekaterinburg. Population: 99,373 (2010 Census); 99,804 (2002 Census); 104,158 (1989 Census).
The Katangese franc, was the currency of the unrecognized State of Katanga between 1960 and 1963 during its brief period of independence from the Republic of the Congo. It replaced the Congolese franc at par and was consequently initially equal to the Belgian franc. This established an exchange rate of 50 francs = 1 U.S. dollar. Just before Katanga was re-annexed by Congo, the exchange rate had fallen to 195 francs = 1 U.S. dollar. The currency was replaced at par by the Congolese franc.
The Malian franc was the independent currency of Mali between 1962 and 1984. Although technically subdivided into 100 centimes, no subdivisions were issued.
The franc was the currency of Algeria between 1848 and 1964. It was subdivided into 100 centimes.
The Swiss franc has been the currency of Liechtenstein since 1920. The Swiss franc is legal tender since Liechtenstein is in a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. The 1980 treaty between Switzerland and Liechtenstein allows Liechtenstein to mint limited amounts of Swiss francs with a Liechtenstein inscription, but only in the form of commemorative coins, and they are not allowed to issue banknotes.
The franc was the currency of French Cameroun. It was subdivided into 100 centimes and was equal in value to the French franc.
The franc is the currency of New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna, part of the CFP franc since 1945 and issued by the Institut d'émission d'outre-mer (IEOM) in Paris. It is subdivided into 100 centimes, although centime denominations are no longer in circulation.
The franc is the currency of French Polynesia, part of the CFP franc since 1945 and issued by the Institut d'émission d'outre-mer (IEOM) in Paris. It is subdivided into 100 centimes, although centime denominations are no longer in circulation.
The franc was the currency of French West Africa. The French franc circulated, together with distinct banknotes from 1903 and coins from 1944. It was replaced by the CFA franc in 1945.
Anton Alekseyevich Bakov is a Russian businessman, monarchist politician, traveler, writer and human rights activist. He is the chairman of the Russian Monarchist Party, was a member of the 4th convocation of the State Duma of Russia from 2003 to 2007 and was a candidate at 2018 Russian presidential election. Due to being known for a long series of unusual political projects such as Ural franc, the writer Alexei Ivanov coined him a "political Leonardo".
The Monarchist Party of Russia is a monarchist political party that was created in 2012 by prominent politician and businessman Anton Bakov, a former member of Russia's State Duma. It declares its aim as the restoration of the monarchy in the country, while transforming it into a modern constitutional one "with full accordance to democratic procedures and current laws", as well as promoting the monarchist conception among Russians and other people of the world.
Oleg Andreyevich Gusev is a Russian entrepreneur and politician from Urals. He is currently the head of Ural Financial Holding enterprise, based in Ekaterinburg, and involved in massive land development projects and other large businesses. Formerly he also was a member of regional government ranking up to vice prime minister.
The Ural Republic was an unrecognized subject of the Russian Federation that existed from July 1, 1993 to November 9, 1993 within the boundaries of Sverdlovsk Oblast region. It was formed as a result of a referendum held on April 12, 1993 by Eduard Rossel.
Alexander Leonidovich Burkov is a Russian politician who served as governor of Omsk Oblast from 2017 to 2023. He is a member of the Central Council of A Just Russia — For Truth party.
The Workers' Movement for Social Guarantees "May" or shortly "May" Movement was a social-populist regional political organization, operating in 1999–2000 in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia.

Transformation of Ural was a regional political association in Russia, operating in Sverdlovsk Oblast. It participated in 1995 Russian legislative election as Transformation of the Fatherland.