50 Tenge

Kazakhstan's first banknote series, introduced in November 1993, was issued under extraordinary secrecy. The government had been preparing its own currency for months while still officially participating in the ruble zone — the notes were flown in from Harrison & Sons and held in vaults before a surprise three-day window in which citizens could exchange Soviet rubles for tenge at a fixed rate.

Harrison printed several denominations in this inaugural series, and the 50 Tenge sits near the upper end of the initial range. The P#12A designation distinguishes it from a subsequent signature variety.