The Russian ruble has been the monetary unit of the Russian Federation since January 1, 1993. Its symbol ₽ became official on December 11, 2013. It is divided into 100 kopecks. Aside from Russia, the Russian ruble is currently legal tender in Abkhazia and South Ossetia-Alania (two separatist republics from Georgia), and in Transnistria (separatist republic from Moldova). It has its origins in the Novgorod Republic in the 13th century. The word "rouble" comes from the Russian verb "roubit", meaning "to split" or "to chop", in reference to cutting pieces of silver metal.