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20 Som
| Issuer | Kyrgyzstan Banky (National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1993 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Som (1993-date) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse carries a central vignette of the equestrian statue of Manas the Noble, hero of the Kyrgyz national epic, set against a background of traditional Kyrgyz national ornamental guilloche patterns. The denomination numeral '20' appears at upper left, with the spelled value 'ЖЫЙЫРМА СОМ' below, all rendered in deep blue intaglio. A band of interlaced national ornamental motifs runs horizontally across the centre of the note. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse presents a detailed intaglio vignette of the Manas Mausoleum (Gumbez Manas) in Talas, rendered in blue, with its distinctive pointed conical tower and ornately decorated portal arch occupying the left-centre field. The background carries multicoloured guilloche underprint patterns including a rosette at upper right and geometric latticework, while a horizontal band of traditional Kyrgyz ornamental motifs bisects the design. The denomination numerals '20' and the Cyrillic legends appear at left and lower right respectively. |
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| Comments |
The 1993 som series was Kyrgyzstan's first national currency, introduced in May of that year to replace the Soviet ruble following independence. The transition was abrupt — the ruble zone was collapsing, and neighboring states were scrambling to establish their own monetary systems. Kyrgyzstan moved faster than most, though it lacked domestic printing capacity entirely, which is why Harrison & Sons handled the contract.
Harrison had been printing banknotes for former colonial and Commonwealth territories for decades, and their involvement here reflects the limited options available to newly independent post-Soviet states with no established central banking infrastructure.