1000 Som

The 1000 Som was the highest denomination in circulation when it was issued, introduced partly in response to the inflationary pressures that had eroded the value of the som since its hurried launch in May 1993 — Kyrgyzstan had introduced its own currency just 48 hours after announcing the decision, one of the fastest national currency launches among the post-Soviet republics. By 2000, the lower denominations had become largely impractical for everyday transactions.

P#18 is the first 1000 Som note printed for Kyrgyzstan, produced by De La Rue.