...Kyrgyzstan - 200, 500 and 1000 Som 2023 Series Commemorative 30th Year of National Currency

Кыргыз Республикасы

(Kyrgyz Republic)

 

Кыргыз Республикасынын Улуттук Банк

(National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic)
Currency - Som (KGS)

 

This is the fifth series of banknotes issued since its first series released in 1993, following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, and independence was declared on 31.08.1991.

 

This set of three notes were released on 10.05.2023 to celebrate the country's 30th Year of National Currency 1993 -2023. The first series of Kyrgyzstan banknotes were released in 1993 (tyiyn and som) on 10.05.1993, and this new series was released exactly 30 years from the first series of banknotes. The issuance for this new series was announced on 28.04.2023.

The main designs for this series on the front and back are basically the same as those first issued in 2010 but with updated designs and additional security features added to the notes. Like those previously issued, this series reflects the historical and cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan.

 

Only three notes have been issued. 

 

Two Hundred Som

Alykul Osmonov (b.1915-1950)

 

Front - Alykul Osmonov (b.1915-1950). During his short lifetime, he was a Kyrgyz poet, and he died at a very young age of 35 years old.

 

Chairman (Төрага) - Kubanychbek Bokontaev

Watermark - Alykul Osmonov and electrotype 200

Dimensions - 138mm x 67mm

 

Back - The image of Lake Issyk-kul located in the Northern Tian Shan mountains in Eastern Kyrgyzstan. This lake is the seventh-deepest lake in the world. Presumably, above the image of the lake is a poem written by Alykul Osmonov.

Alykul Osmonov (b.1915-1950)

 

Five Hundred Som

Sayakbay Karalaev (b.1894-1971)

 

Front - Sayakbay Karalaev (b.1894-1971). He was a storyteller and a manaschi - a reciter of the epic Kyrgyz poem Manas.

 

Chairman (Төрага) - Kubanychbek Bokontaev

Watermark - Sayakbay Karalaev and electrotype 500

Dimensions - 145mm x 69mm

 

Back - Manas Mausoleum, allegedly the burial site of Manas. Manas is a Kyrgyz epic hero, who is said to have been buried in the Ala-Too mountains in Talas Province in northwestern Kyrgyzstan.

Manas Mausoleum

 

One Thousand Som

Jusup Balasagyn (a.k.a. Yusuf Khass Hajib b.1019-1077)

 

Front - Jusup Balasagyn (a.k.a. Yusuf Khass Hajib b.1019-1077). He was a poet, statesman, vizier, and a philosopher. Unlike the 200 and 500 som notes, there is no date printed underneath the portrait of Jusup Balasagyn  to say when he was born or died. I believe it is due to the fact that no one actually knows the dates.

 

Chairman (Төрага) - Kubanychbek Bokontaev

Watermark - Jusup Balasagyn and electrotype 1000

Dimensions - 151mm x 72mm

 

Back - Throne of Solomon monument on Sulaiman-Too Sacred mountain a.k.a. Mount Sulaiman, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the one and only UNESCO Heritage Site in the whole of Kyrgyzstan, and is located in the city of Osh.

Throne of Solomon monument on Sulaiman-Too Sacred mountain

Footnote:

Here is the link (courtesy of the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan) from the Central Bank confirming that these three notes honouring the 30th Anniversary of the national currency.