250 Manat

Azerbaijan's first post-Soviet banknote series was rushed into production in 1992–93 as the country scrambled to exit the ruble zone — a process complicated by the ongoing war with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, which was consuming an enormous share of state resources. The 250 Manat was among the higher denominations required almost immediately upon introduction, as inflation rendered smaller values nearly useless within months of issue.

Pick 13A was printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company, an unusual choice for a newly independent Caucasian republic, reflecting the practical reality that few regional options existed for secure currency printing at the time.