Kyrgyzstani som

Kyrgyzstani som
Кыргыз сом (Kyrgyz) Киргизский сом (Russian)
1 Kyrgyz som (1999/2000) 100 Kyrgyz som (1994)
ISO 4217 code	KGS
Central bank	National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic
Website	www.nbkr.kg
User(s)	Kyrgyzstan
Inflation	6.4%
Source	The World Factbook, 2006 est.
Subunit
1/100	tyiyn
Plural	som
tyiyn	tyiyn
Coins
Freq. used	1, 3, 5, 10 som
Rarely used	1, 10, 50 tyiyn
Banknotes	20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 som
Rarely used	1, 10, 50 tyiyn, 1, 5, 10 som

The som (Kyrgyz: сом, sometimes transliterated as "sum" or "soum") is the currency of the Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia. The ISO 4217 currency code is KGS. The som is sub-divided into 100 tyiyn (Kyrgyz: тыйын). The som was introduced on May 10, 1993, replacing the Soviet ruble at a rate of 1 som = 200 rubles.

Etymology

In the Soviet Union, speakers of Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Uzbek called the ruble the som, and this name appeared written on the back of banknotes, among the texts for the value of the bill in all 15 official languages of the Union. The word som (sometimes transliterated "sum" or "soum") means "pure" in Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uyghur and Uzbek, as well as in many other Turkic languages. The word implies "pure gold".

Coins

Coins exist in denominations of 10 and 50 tiyin (also spelt tyiyn & tyin), which are made of brass plated steel, and 1, 3 and 5 som, made of nickel plated steel. Coins were first issued in January 2008, and they are minted by the Kazakhstan mint in Ust-Kamenogorsk. There are several commemorative coins made of silver and gold, and a special collector's issue of brass 1 tiyin coin. Nickel plated steel 10 som coin was issued for circulation in 2009.

Banknotes

In 1993, the government issued 1, 10 and 50 tyiyn notes and the Kyrgyzstan Bank issued notes for 1, 5 and 20 som. In 1994, the Kyrgyz Bank issued a second series of notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 som. A third series followed from 1997 onwards in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 som.

1993 series

First series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Issue	withdrawal
Obverse	Reverse
		1 tyiyn	90×70	red	May, 10 1993	January, 1 2008[1]
		10 tyiyn		green
		50 tyiyn		blue
		1 som	140×70	red
		5 som		green
		20 som		blue

1994 series

Second Series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description		issue	withdrawal
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse
		1 som	135х65	brown. yellow	Abdylas Maldybaev	Komuz, kylkyak, Bishkek Philharmonic Orchestra	1994	January, 1 2008[2]
		5 som		blue, yellow	Bubusara Beyshenalieva	Kyrgyz National Opera
		10 som		green, yellow	Kasym Tynystanov	Mountain ranges of Kyrgyzstan and the Dzhety-Oguz tract
		20 som		red, orange, brown	Togolok Moldo	Manas Mausoleum
		50 som		red-brown, lilac	Kurmanjan Datka	Uzgen architectural complex of the 11-12th centuries
		100 som		gray, brown, olive	Toktogul Satylganov	Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station	1995
Масштаб изображений — 1,0 пикселя на миллиметр

1997 series

Third series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description			Date of
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse	Watermark	printing	issue	withdrawal
		1 som	120 × 60 mm	Green-orange	Abdylas Maldybaev	Komuz, kylkyak, Bishkek Philharmonic Orchestra	As portrait	1999	February 7, 2000	January, 1 2010[3]
		5 som	135 × 65 mm	Dark blue	Bubusara Beyshenalieva	Kyrgyz National Opera		1997	December 17, 1997
		10 som		Dark green	Kasym Tynystanov	Mountain ranges of Kyrgyzstan and the Dzhety-Oguz tract
		20 som		Ochre-red	Togolok Moldo	Manas Mausoleum	As portrait, and value	2002	August 15, 2002	operates
		50 som	145 × 70 mm	Red-violet	Kurmanjan Datka	Uzgen architectural complex of the 11-12th centuries
		100 som	150 × 72 mm	Green-violet	Toktogul Satylganov	Khan Tengri
		200 som	155 × 74 mm	Yellow	Alykul Osmonov	Lake Issyk Kul		2000 2004	August 28, 2000 August 2, 2004
		500 som	160 × 76 mm	Violet	Sayakbay Karalaev	Sayakbay Karalaev and images from the Manas (epic)		2000 2005	August 28, 2000 November 1, 2005
		1000 som	165 × 78 mm	Grey-green	Jusup Balasagyn	Takhti Sulaiman, Mount Sulaiman		2000	August 28, 2000
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

2009 series

In 2009 the Kyrgyzstan bank issued a 5000 som, with a new edition for 20, 50 and 100 som denominations. The denominations of 200, 500 and 1000 som were issued in December 2010.

Fourt series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Colour	Description			Date of
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse	Watermark	printing	issue
		20 som	120 × 50mm	Red	Togolok Moldo	Tash Rabat	Togolok Moldo	July 1, 2009
		50 som	126 × 61	Orange	Kurmanjan Datka	Minaret and mausoleum	Alai Tsaritsa	July 1, 2009
		100 som	132 × 63	Blue	Toktogul Satylganov	Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station	Toktogul Satylganov	July 1, 2009
		200 som	138 × 66 mm	Yellow	Alykul Osmonov	Lake Issyk-Kul	Alykul Osmonov	December 1, 2010	2010
		500 som	144 × 69 mm	Violet	Sayakbay Karalaev	Manas Mausoleum	Sayakbai Karalaev	December 1, 2010	2010
		1000 som	150 × 71 mm	Grey-green	Jusup Balasagyn	Takhti Sulaiman, Mount Sulaiman	Jusup Balasagyn	December 1, 2010	2010
		5000 som	168 × 80 mm (Not Exact)	Green	Suimenkul Chokmorov	Ala-Too Square	Suimenkul Chokmorov	March 2, 2009

One of many currency exchange kiosks in Bishkek's Dordoy Bazaar, quoting value of foreign currencies in Kyrgyz som

Current KGS exchange rates
From Google Finance:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY RUB
From Yahoo! Finance:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY RUB
From OzForex:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY RUB
From XE.com:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY RUB
From OANDA.com:	AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY RUB

See also

• Economy of Kyrgyzstan

External links

• Biographies of the figures depicted on Kyrgyz bank notes from the Spektator magazine