...Kazakhstan - 1000 Tenge 2025 Commemorative 80th Anniversary of End of World War II

Қазақстан Республикасы

(Republic of Kazakhstan)

 

Қазақстан Ұлттық Банкі

(National Bank of Kazakhstan, Est.1993)

Currency - Tenge (KZT)

 

Here is the 1000 tenge commemorative note reportedly released on 09.05.2025, celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (Second World War). A total of five million pieces were issued for this commemorative series. The design for this series is completely new. This is a legal tender note in the territory of Kazakhstan. This is the 12th commemorative banknotes issued by Kazakhstan since 1993.

 

It should be noted that during the last world war, Nazi Germany did not physically occupy today's Kazakhstan. However, as Kazakhstan was then part of the Russian Empire/Soviet Union since 1840, it became involved in the war after the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. In total, more than 130,000 Kazakhs died in the war from military involvements, famines and diseases. Also as a result of the Germans invasion, many ethnic Germans from the Volga region in Russia were deported to labour camps and settlements within Kazakhstan during the war.  

 

The date May 9, in Russia is called Den's Pobedy or Victory Day (День Победы). Whilst Nazi Germany surrendered on 08.05.1945, and due to the time difference between Russia and Germany, the signing of the surrender documents took effect for the Soviet forces on 09.05.1945 and as such this day is celebrated.  

 

A few countries celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II, countries like the United Kingdom, United States, China, France and other European nations but only Kazakhstan and the disputed territory of Transnistria have issued banknotes to commemorate this celebration.

 

 

One Thousand Tenge

Front - On the front, it depicts The Glory Memorial in Almaty, which is located in the park named after 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, a tribute to the heroes who gave their lives for their homeland. Almost 1.2 million people from Kazakhstan were mobilised for the war, which represented almost 20% of the population then. These 1.2 million people were involved in the infantry, tank units, aviation and navy. To the left, four flying cranes with another four cranes in silhouettes personify goodness and hope. Below the flying cranes is the eternal flame.

 

Signature - Timur Suleymanov (Governor)

Date - 2025

Quantity - 5 million pieces 

Watermarks - the numeral 80 and years 1941-1945

Size - 130.5mm x 70mm 

Back - An outline map of Kazakhstan printed with fragments of historical archival photographs provided by RSE 'Central State Archive of Film, Photo Documents and Sound Recordings' of the Committee of Archieve's Documentation and Book Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan (a bit of a mouth full here). To the far right is a war medal and below the medal is the commemorative logo for this series.

...Kazakhstan - Signature Grigory Alexandrovich Marchenko (Tenure 2009-2013)

Қазақстан Республикасы

(Republic of Kazakhstan)

 

Қазақстан Ұлттық Банкі

(National Bank of Kazakhstan)

Currency - Tenge (KZT)

 

Here I have posted two of the three normal circulation notes issued with the signature of Grigory Alexandrovich Marchenko. Marchenko was the Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan from 2009 to 2013. I believe only three notes were issued with his signature for the normal circulating notes. In addition to this, his signature also appeared on five other banknotes issued for commemorative purposes from 1000 tenge to 20000 tenge. This series has changed little since it was first introduced in 2011. The 10000 tenge note is printed on Hybrid material.

 

Two Thousand Tenge

Dated 2012, flag, Kazakh Eli monument, Khan Shatyr tents, flying pigeons, antelope

Outline map of Kazakhstan, Irtysh river

Five Thousand Tenge (Missing)

 

Ten Thousand Tenge (Hybrid)

Dated 2012, Kazakh Eli monument in Nur-Sultan, flying pigeons

Ak Orda President Palace in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan

...Kazakhstan - 10000 Tenge 2023 Commemmorative 30th Year of Tenge Currency

 Қазақстан Республикасы

(Republic of Kazakhstan)

 

Қазақстан Ұлттық Банкі

(National Bank of Kazakhstan)

Currency - Tenge (KZT)

 

This is a commemorative note of 10000 tenge released on 15.11.2023, to mark 30th Anniversary of introduction of the national currency - Tenge 1993-2023.

 

Kazakhstan was formerly a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was officially dissolved on 25.12.1991, which let to 14 post-Soviet states* previously controlled by the Russian, becoming republic. Kazakhstan was one of the 14 post-Soviet states. Whilst Kazakhstan declared full independence on 16.12.1991, it was not recognised until on 26.12.1991 when the Soviet Union finally collapsed. Attempts were made to have a common currency following the collapse of the Soviet Union, but this was unsuccessful. The Russian rubles then continued to legally circulate in all the fourteen newly formed nations. On 12.11.1993, the government of Kazakhstan announced that a new currency of the Republic of Kazakhstan will be issued and on 15.11.1993, the 'Tenge' officially became the currency of Kazakhstan. At the time of the introduction, the rate of exchange was one Tenge equals to 500 Russian Rubles.

 

Fast forward, in 2023, Kazakhstan celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Tenge currency, as such this commemorative banknote is issued.

 

Unlike previous commemorative issues, this is not a Hybrid note.

 

Ten Thousand Tenge

A Tenge coin, map of Kazakhstan

Front - A Tenge coin on the left with the image of the State Emblem of Kazakhstan, and the "Mobius strip", and an outline map of Kazakhstan (together with Caspian sea) with regions indicated by capital letters A (Абай), Ж (Жетісу) and Ұ (Ұлытау). There are 17 regions in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world and has a land area of 2.7 million square kilometers. 

Chairman - Timur Muratuly Suleimenov (since 04.09.2023)

Predominant - Blue-violet both front and back

Watermark - Tenge currency symbol ''₸''

Dimensions - 146mm x 70.5mm

 

Back - A Tenge coin printed on the right side of the note with the image of the "Tenge" sign and the "Mobius strip", and the outline of the state of Kazakhstan of Kazakhstan on the map of the Eurasian continent. The Tenge currency symbol of ''₸'' is also added to the design of the note.

A Tenge coin, map of Eurasia

 

Footnote - *

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

...Kazakhstan - No Signature Issues Series from 2011 to 2022 Paper and Hybrid Notes

Қазақстан Республикасы

(Republic of Kazakhstan)

 

Қазақстан Ұлттық Банкі

(National Bank of Kazakhstan)

Currency - Tenge (KZT)

 

Posted belows are notes released since 2015 or 2016. These notes were issued without the signature of the Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan. Between 2015 and 2019, Daniyar Akishev was the Chairman of the country's central bank. He has since been replaced by Erbolat Dossaev. I believe the current Chairman is Galymzhan Pirmatov.

 

It is not sure why these notes were printed without a signature on it. The main designs on all these notes are the same as those previously released except the missing signature. Whilst I mentioned that the notes were released from 2015, the notes here are printed with the year dates from 2011 to 2022. The 20000 tenge hybrid note looks more like a commemorative note, even if it is not. I believe that the notes that I have posted here is a complete set for the current series with no signature, albeit different years issued.

 

As the designs on the front of the current series illustrate man made landmarks situated in the capital city of Kazakhstan, you may find the capital city's name is sometimes referred to as Nur-Sultan or Astana. Just not to confuse myself, belows are the name changed for the capital city of Kazakhstan since settlement was first established; -

 

1830 - Akmola, settlement founded;

1832 - Akmolinsk, township status granted;

1961 - Tselinograd, renamed by the Russian meaning Virgin lands city

1991 - Akmola, following independence of Kazakhstan;

1997 - Almalty;

1998 - Astana, meaning capital city;

2019 - Nur-Sultan, in honoring previous President, Nursultan Nazarbayev;

2022 - Astana, reverted back to as it was first named in 1998.

 

According to the Guinness World Record, the capital of Kazakhstan holds the most name changes since it was founded.   

 

Five Hundred Tenge (paper)

Dated 2017, flag, Kazakh Eli monument, flying pigeons, building

 

Front - On the front for all the notes, it features the Kazakh Eli monument in Astana. The Kazakh Eli monument or square was built in 2009. Independence was achieved on 16.121991. Below the monument are two high rise buildings. The national flag is printed on the top right corner. The Coat of Arms is also featured on the note, and with three flying doves.

Dimensions* - 67mm x 130mm

 

Back - Outline map of Kazakhstan with seagulls flying all over it. The year date of 2017 is printed on the top left-hand corner. For those previously issued, the signature of the governor would appear just under the year date.

Outline map of Kazakhstan, seagulls

 

One Thousand Tenge (paper)

Dated 2014, Kazakh Eli monument in Astana, flying pigeons

 

Front - Flag, Coat of Arms, Kazakh Eli Monument and flying doves. 

 

Dimensions* - 70mm x 134mm

 

Back - Outline map of Kazakhstan. In the background is the image of Ustyurt Plateau, a transboundary clay desert shared by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

 

Map outline of Kazakhstan, landscape sense of Ustyurt Plateau

Two Thousand Tenge (paper)

Dated 2012, flag, Kazakh Eli monument, Khan Shatyr tents, flying pigeons, antelope

 

Front - Flag, Coat of Arms, Kazakh Eli Monument, flying doves, Khan Shatyr tent, jumping antelope.

 

Dimensions* - 73mm x 139mm

 

Back - The outline map of Kazakhstan and inside with the scene of Irtysh River. The river flows from Mongolia, China, crossing Kazakhstan and then into Russia and out to the Gulf of Ob in northern Russia.

 

Outline map of Kazakhstan, Irtysh river

 

Five Thousand Tenge (paper)

Dated 2011, Kazakh Eli monument in Astana

 

Front - National flag of Kazakhstan on top right hand corner, Kazakh Eli monument in Astana (capital city of Kazakhstan) with surrounding flying pigeons.

 

Dimensions - 76.5mm x 145mm 

Back - Outline Kazakh Eli monument in Astana with the Kazakh Eli monument in Astana. Printed on the background is the Alatau ridge of Tjan-Shan mountain range.

Kazakh Eli monument in Astana, Kazakh Eli monument in Astana

Ten Thousand Tenge (Hybrid)

Dated 2012, Kazakh Eli monument in Astana, flying pigeons

 

Front - Flag, Coat of Arms, Kazakh Eli Monument and flying pigeons.

 

Dimensions* - 79mm x 149mm

 

Back - Ak Orda President Palace in Nur-Sultan (the White Horde) is the official office of the President of Kazakhstan. The Palace was completed and opened in 2004. This is a seven-storey building and is located in the capital city of Astana.

Ak Orda President Palace in Astana

Twenty Thousand Tenge (Hybrid)

Dated 2022, Kazakh Eli monument in Astana

 

Front - National flag of Kazakhstan, Kazakh Eli monument in Astana (capital city of Kazakhstan). The Kazakh Eli was built to celebrate the independence of Kazakhstan. Flying pigeons. At the bottom is the Mangilik El Triumphal Arch. The name in Kazakh means Eternal Country.

Dimensions - 60mm x 156mm

Back - The Palace of the President (the Residence Ak Orda) inside the outline map of Kazakhstan. Image of a large Steppe eagle, the national bird of Kazakhstan on the left and a golden Steppe eagle flying above the map of Kazakhstan.

The Palace of the President, outline map of Kazakhstan

...Kazakhstan - 20000 Tenge Hybrid Commemorative Banknote 30th Year of Independence

Qazaqstan Respublikasy

(Republic of Kazakhstan)

 

Qazaqstan Ulttyq Banki

(National Bank of Kazakhstan)

Currency - Tenge (KZT)

 

This is a 20,000 tenge commemorative note released on 16.12.2021 to celebrate the country's 30 years of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Independence day has been celebrated on 16th of December since 1991. The announcement for the release of this commemorative note was made on 01.12.2021.

This is the second time that the central has released a commemorative note with the value of 20,000 tenge. The first was the 2013 note that celebrated the 20th year of the country's tenge currency. This is also currently the largest denomination circulation in the country.

 

With this note released, it is also the first time that the central bank has used Latin instead of Cyrillic writings on the note. This means that the name Kazakhstan has changed from 'Қазақстан' to 'Qazaqstan'.

 

The format for this new note is the same as those last released. On the front, the note is printed in a vertical format and on the back is horizontal. Also, like those previously issued, there are no signatures printed on the note. The governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan is Erbolat Dossaev and he was appointed to the role in 2019.  

This banknote is printed on Hybrid material.

 

Twenty Thousand Tenge

Kazakh Eli monument

 

Front: - The Kazakh Eli monument in the capital city of Nur-Sultan. The monument is located in the Independence square and construction for this monument was completed in 2009. Four flying doves signifying peace and independence. Below is the Arch of Triumph situated in Astana. This monument was built to celebrate Kazakhstan's 20th Year of Independence celebration. On top of the note, it depicts the hologram image of Kazakhstan's first President Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev. The national flag is printed on the top right-hand corner.

30 TAYELSIZDIK JYLDARY

QAZAQSTAN

(30 Years of Independence, Kazakhstan)

 

This note is printed with the year date of 2021 on the back.

 

Signature - Chairman Grigory Alexandrovich Marchenko. Not printed

Dimensions - 79.5mm x 155mm

Back: - The back's main feature is the portrait of President Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, who was the country's first president. He was in office from April 1990 to March 2019, when he was forced to resign after anti-government protests. He was succeeded by his close ally, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev. The outline map of Kazakhstan is printed on the background with the image of the Akorda Presidential Palace (built 2004), the official office of the president and his staff. The commemorative logo of 30 (years) is printed on the front and back in golden colour.

Former President Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev

...Kazakhstan - Series 2013 to 2015, Signature Chairman Kairat Kelimbetov

Қазақстан Республикасы

(Republic of Kazakhstan)

 

Қазақстан Ұлттық Банкі

(National Bank of Kazakhstan)

Currency - Tenge (KZT)

 

Kazakhstan declared independence from the Soviet empire on 16.12.1991, just 10 days before the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 26.12.1991. On 13.04.1993, the National Bank of Kazakhstan was formed and on 15.11.1993 issued its own currency, thus replacing the Russian ruble. The new currency is called 'Tenge', which means a set of scales. The word 'Tenge' originally came from the Mongolian word 'Tenge' which means 'balance or equal'. The currency 'Tenge' is divided into 100 tyin. Since then, the National Bank of Kazakhstan has been responsible for issuing the country's banknotes. When the tenge was introduced, the currency exchange rate was one tenge equal to 500 rubles. In today's exchange rate, one Russian ruble can buy more than 5 tenge approximately.

In this post, I have uploaded five notes. All these notes bear the signature of Kairat Kelimbetov. Kelimbetov was the Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan from 01.10.2013 to 02.11.2015. During his tenure as the head of the central bank, I believe only four banknotes were released with his signature on it, and these were 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000 tenge. The 10000 tenge is a Hybrid note. All these notes were released individually, and they were all dated between 2011 and 2014. It is very obvious that these notes were released as and when they are required. Whilst Kazakhstan is a huge country with more than 2.7 million km² in land area, almost 85% of the size of India but has a rather small population of just under 19 million people. More than half of the population are Kazakh, which is the native of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is almost a landlocked country sharing common borders with Russia in the north and west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to the south and China on the east. The only sea access is the Caspian sea which is situated to the west of the country.

Since 2015, Kairat Kelimbetov has been replaced by Daniyar Akishev (tenure 2015-2019). No banknotes bearing the signature of Danivar Akishev have been sighted so far as all banknotes issued since then do not have the signature of the Chairman of the central bank printed on it. The current Chairman of the bank is Erbolat Dossaev.

 

One Thousand Tenge

Dated 2014, Kazakh Eli monument in Astana, flying pigeons

Map outline of Kazakhstan, landscape sense of Ustyurt Plateau

Two Thousand Tenge

Dated 2012, flag, Kazakh Eli monument, Khan Shatyr tents, flying pigeons, antelope

Outline map of Kazakhstan, Irtysh river

Five Thousand Tenge

Dated 2011, Kazakh Eli monument, Palace of Independence, pigeon, leopards

Outline map of Kazakhstan map, Independence monument, Hotel Kazakhstan

Ten Thousand Tenge (Hybrid)

Dated 2012, Kazakh Eli monument in Nur-Sultan, flying pigeons

Ak Orda President Palace in Nur-Sultan

...Kazakhstan - 2014 Prints

This is an interesting issue. These two notes issued both have the year date of 2014 but only one has a signature on the back and the other has none. It is not sure these notes were issued in such a manner, but could it be done by two different imprinters? I have no info as to which one was issued first.

One Thousand Tenge

Dated 2014, P46a

Reverse with signature and title

One Thousand Tenge

Dated 2014, P46b

Reverse with no signature

.Kazakhstan - 10,000 Tenge 2016 25th Independence Commemorative

This is a commemorative note issued on 01.12.2016 celebrating the country's 25th Independence. On 16.12.1991, Kazakhstan declared its independence from the Soviet Union. The reverse of the note depicts the portrait of Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev, who has been the President of Kazakhstan since independence.

Ten Thousand Tenge

Dated 2016

Reverse

.Kazakhstan - 20000 Tenge 2013 20th Anniversary of Currency Commemorative

This is a new 20,000 Tenge denomination note dated 2013 and was reportedly released on 02.12.2015. This note was printed to celebrate the country's 20th Anniversary of the National Currency "Tenge" in 2013 but was not released until December 2015. It is not sure why this note was not released back in 2013. The word Tenge in Kazakh means a set of scales. The Tenge currency was first introduced in 1993 following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 90s. This is the largest denomination currently circulating in the country. Like the current 10,000 Tenge in circulation, this note is also printed with Hybrid materials. The design format on this note is very similar to current issues. On the front, it's in vertical format whilst on the back the note is viewed in a horizontal position. As expected, a 20th Anniversary commemorative logo is printed on the back of the top left corner of the note. It is also not sure if this is a one off issue or will we be seeing reprints of this denomination without the commemorative logo later.

Twenty Thousand Tenge

Dated 2013

Reverse

..Kazakhstan - 10,000 Tenge Hybrid reprint 2012 (2014)

This is a reprint of the 10,000 Tenge Hybrid note first issued in 2012. The note is still dated 2012 but with the new signature of Kairat Kelimbetov. This note was released in 2014. 

 
Ten Thousand Tenge

Dated 2012, Issued 2014, P43b

Reverse

.Kazakhstan - 1000 Tenge 2013 Commemorative

This is a one Thousand Tenge 2013 Commemorative Note. This note was issued to commemorate the Kultegin, the moment of Turkic Runic Writing. This note was released to the public on 12.12.2013. The "Day of Turkic Runic Inscriptions" was celebrated for the first time in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan in 2014. The event was held on 19-20 May 2014, which took place at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. The event was attended by scholars, intellectuals, state officials as well as representatives of official institutions and organizations from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and the Russian Federation.

One Thousand Tenge

ND2013, PNL

Reverse

.Kazakhstan - 1000 Tenge 2013 Commemorative

One Thousand Tenge 2013 Commemorative Note. This note was issued to commemorate the Kultegin, the moment of Turkic Runic Writing. This note was released to the public on 12.12.2013.

One Thousand Tenge

ND2013, PNL

Reverse

.Kazakhstan - 10,000 Tenge Dated 2011 20th Year Independence Commemorative

This note was issued to celebrate the country’s 20^th year of independence 1991-2011. Kazakhstan was once a member of the Soviet Union empire since August 1920. The country declared independence from Russia on 16.12.1991 and the Soviet Union itself collapsed 10 days later. Kazakhstan was the last Soviet republic to declare independence from the Soviet Union.

Quantity = 30,000,000 pieces printed

Kazakhstan 10,000 Tenge Commemorative

Reverse

.Kazakhstan - 1000 Tenge Dated 2011 Chairmanship in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Commemorative

This is a commemorative note issued in 2011 to celebrate Kazakhstan hosting the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The conference was held in Astana on 28.06.2011, the capital of Kazakhstan. The OIC was founded in 1969. During the conference in Astana, it changed its name to Organisation of the Islamic Corporation. The OIC has a total members of 57 nations with a combined population of approximately 1.81 billion. This is the only commemorative note issue for this celebration.

One Thousand Tenge, Dated 2011 PNL

Commemorating Chairmanship in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference

Reverse

.Kazakhstan - 5000 Tenge 2008 ND2008 15th Year of National Currency Commemorative

The Kazakhstan Tenge was born following the collapse of the Soviet Empire in 1991. Whilst independence was in 1991, the new currency was not introduced until in 1993. This note is issued to celebrate the country's 15th year of National currency Tenge.

Five Thousand Tenge, ND2008
Commemorating 15th Year of the National Currency - TengeReverse