The som is the currency

Currency

In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...

 of the Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia

Central Asia

Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...

. The ISO 4217

ISO 4217

ISO 4217 is a standard published by the International Standards Organization, which delineates currency designators, country codes , and references to minor units in three tables:* Table A.1 – Current currency & funds code list...

 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

Soviet ruble

The Soviet ruble or rouble was the currency of the Soviet Union. One ruble is divided into 100 kopeks, ....

 at a rate of 1 som = 200 rubles.

Etymology

In the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

, speakers of Kazakh

Kazakh language

Kazakh is a Turkic language which belongs to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic languages, closely related to Nogai and Karakalpak....

, Kyrgyz

Kyrgyz language

Kyrgyz or Kirgiz, also Kirghiz, Kyrghiz, Qyrghiz is a Turkic language and, together with Russian, an official language of Kyrgyzstan...

 and Uzbek

Uzbek language

Uzbek is a Turkic language and the official language of Uzbekistan. It has about 25.5 million native speakers, and it is spoken by the Uzbeks in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in Central Asia...

 called the ruble

Soviet ruble

The Soviet ruble or rouble was the currency of the Soviet Union. One ruble is divided into 100 kopeks, ....

 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

Kazakh language

Kazakh is a Turkic language which belongs to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic languages, closely related to Nogai and Karakalpak....

, Kyrgyz

Kyrgyz language

Kyrgyz or Kirgiz, also Kirghiz, Kyrghiz, Qyrghiz is a Turkic language and, together with Russian, an official language of Kyrgyzstan...

, Uyghur

Uyghur language

Uyghur , formerly known as Eastern Turk, is a Turkic language with 8 to 11 million speakers, spoken primarily by the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of Western China. Significant communities of Uyghur-speakers are located in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and various other...

 and Uzbek

Uzbek language

Uzbek is a Turkic language and the official language of Uzbekistan. It has about 25.5 million native speakers, and it is spoken by the Uzbeks in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in Central Asia...

, as well as in many other Turkic languages. The word implies "pure gold

Gold

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

".

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

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...

 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

National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic

-External links:...

 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	2010
		10 tyiyn		green
		50 tyiyn		blue
		1 som	140×70	red		1994
		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 Abdylas Maldybaev Abdylas Maldybaev was a Kyrgyz composer, actor, and operatic tenor singer. Maldybaev was one of the composers of the state anthem of the Kirghiz SSR and is still renowned for his operatic composition. He helped popularize Kyrgyz music by skillfully using Western European techniques...	Komuz Komuz The komuz or qomuz , Azeri Gopuz, Turkish Kopuz, is an ancient fretless string instrument used in Central Asian music, related to certain other Turkic string instruments and the lute.... , kylkyak, Bishkek Philharmonic Orchestra	1994	2002
		5 som		blue, yellow	Bubusara Beyshenalieva Bubusara Beyshenalieva Bubusara Beyshenalieva , known simply as Bubusara in her native Kyrgyzstan, was the first great Kyrgyz ballerina. She studied at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Leningrad under the legendary Russian ballerina Agrippina Vaganova and made her debut at the famed Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.In 1944, after...	Kyrgyz National Opera
		10 som		green, yellow	Kasym Tynystanov Kasym Tynystanov Kasym Tynystanov was a prominent Kyrgyz scientist, politician and poet. He served as the first Minister of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic.-Early life:...	Mountain ranges of Kyrgyzstan and the Dzhety-Oguz tract
		20 som		red, orange, brown	Togolok Moldo Togolok Moldo Togolok Moldo was a Kyrgyz poet, Manaschi and folk song writer. Born in Ak-Talaa district, Naryn province . Togolok Moldo by his audiences - "togolok" means round-faced, "moldo" means an educated person.He is buried near the village of about 3,000 persons named for him in Ak-Talaa district....	Manas Mausoleum
		50 som		red-brown, lilac	Kurmanjan Datka Kurmanjan Datka Kurmanjan Datka , also known as "The Tsaritsa of Alai" or "The Queen of the South," was a stateswoman in Kyrgyzstan, known for her initial resistance to the annexation of that region by Russia.Kurmanjan was born into a nomadic family of the Mongush clan in the Alai Mountains...	Uzgen Uzgen Uzgen is a town in Osh Province, Kyrgyzstan. It is the capital of Uzgen District.-Geography:...  architectural complex of the 11-12th centuries
		100 som		gray, brown, olive	Toktogul Satylganov	Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station Toktogul Reservoir Toktogul Reservoir , located in the Jalal-Abad Province of Kyrgyzstan, is the largest of the reservoirs on the path of the Naryn River. The reservoir was named after Toktogul Satilganov....
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 Abdylas Maldybaev Abdylas Maldybaev was a Kyrgyz composer, actor, and operatic tenor singer. Maldybaev was one of the composers of the state anthem of the Kirghiz SSR and is still renowned for his operatic composition. He helped popularize Kyrgyz music by skillfully using Western European techniques...	Komuz Komuz The komuz or qomuz , Azeri Gopuz, Turkish Kopuz, is an ancient fretless string instrument used in Central Asian music, related to certain other Turkic string instruments and the lute.... , kylkyak, Bishkek Philharmonic Orchestra	As portrait	1999	February 7, 2000	2011
		5 som	135 × 65 mm	Dark blue	Bubusara Beyshenalieva Bubusara Beyshenalieva Bubusara Beyshenalieva , known simply as Bubusara in her native Kyrgyzstan, was the first great Kyrgyz ballerina. She studied at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Leningrad under the legendary Russian ballerina Agrippina Vaganova and made her debut at the famed Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.In 1944, after...	Kyrgyz National Opera		1997	December 17, 1997
		10 som		Dark green	Kasym Tynystanov Kasym Tynystanov Kasym Tynystanov was a prominent Kyrgyz scientist, politician and poet. He served as the first Minister of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic.-Early life:...	Mountain ranges of Kyrgyzstan and the Dzhety-Oguz tract
		20 som		Ochre-red	Togolok Moldo Togolok Moldo Togolok Moldo was a Kyrgyz poet, Manaschi and folk song writer. Born in Ak-Talaa district, Naryn province . Togolok Moldo by his audiences - "togolok" means round-faced, "moldo" means an educated person.He is buried near the village of about 3,000 persons named for him in Ak-Talaa district....	Manas Mausoleum	As portrait, and value	2002	August 15, 2002
		50 som	145 × 70 mm	Red-violet	Kurmanjan Datka Kurmanjan Datka Kurmanjan Datka , also known as "The Tsaritsa of Alai" or "The Queen of the South," was a stateswoman in Kyrgyzstan, known for her initial resistance to the annexation of that region by Russia.Kurmanjan was born into a nomadic family of the Mongush clan in the Alai Mountains...	Uzgen Uzgen Uzgen is a town in Osh Province, Kyrgyzstan. It is the capital of Uzgen District.-Geography:...  architectural complex of the 11-12th centuries
		100 som	150 × 72 mm	Green-violet	Toktogul Satylganov	Khan Tengri Khan Tengri Khan Tengri is a mountain of the Tian Shan mountain range. It is located on the China—Kyrgyzstan—Kazakhstan border, east of lake Issyk Kul. Its geologic elevation is , but its glacial cap rises to...
		200 som	155 × 74 mm	Yellow	Alykul Osmonov Alykul Osmonov Alykul Osmonov was a Kyrgyz poet. Osmonov was born in Kaptal-Aryk in Panfilov District, Kyrgyzstan, about 75km east of Bishkek. He was orphaned at a young age and was brought up in state care. His first book of poetry, Poems at Dawn, was published in 1935...	Lake Issyk Kul Issyk Kul Issyk Kul is an endorheic lake in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the tenth largest lake in the world by volume and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes; hence its name, which means "hot...		2000 2004	August 28, 2000 August 2, 2004
		500 som	160 × 76 mm	Violet	Sayakbay Karalaev Sayakbay Karalaev Sayakbay Karalaev was a renowned manaschi - a reciter of the epic Kyrgyz poem Manas...	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 Yusuf Has Hajib Yusuf Balasaghuni or Yusuf Khas Hajib Balasaghuni was an 11th century Uyghur scribe from the city of Balasaghun, the capital of the Karakhanid Empire. He wrote the Kutadgu Bilig and most of what is known about him comes from his own writings in this work.Balasagun was located near present-day...	Takhti Sulaiman Sulayman Mountain The Sulayman Mountain is the only World Heritage Site in the country of Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the city of Osh and was once a major place of Muslim and pre-Muslim pilgrimage... , Mount Sulaiman Sulayman Mountain The Sulayman Mountain is the only World Heritage Site in the country of Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the city of Osh and was once a major place of Muslim and pre-Muslim pilgrimage...		2000	August 28, 2000

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 Togolok Moldo Togolok Moldo was a Kyrgyz poet, Manaschi and folk song writer. Born in Ak-Talaa district, Naryn province . Togolok Moldo by his audiences - "togolok" means round-faced, "moldo" means an educated person.He is buried near the village of about 3,000 persons named for him in Ak-Talaa district....	Tash Rabat Tash Rabat Tash Rabat is a well-preserved 15th century stone caravanserai in At Bashy district, Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan. Some argue that it was originally a Nestorian or Buddhist monastery going back to the tenth century. It is located somewhat east of the main north-south highway.To the south is Lake...	Togolok Moldo	July 1, 2009
		50 som	126 × 61	Orange	Kurmanjan Datka Kurmanjan Datka Kurmanjan Datka , also known as "The Tsaritsa of Alai" or "The Queen of the South," was a stateswoman in Kyrgyzstan, known for her initial resistance to the annexation of that region by Russia.Kurmanjan was born into a nomadic family of the Mongush clan in the Alai Mountains...	Minaret Minaret A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....  and mausoleum Mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...	Alai Tsaritsa	July 1, 2009
		100 som	132 × 63	Blue	Toktogul Satylganov	Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Station Toktogul Reservoir Toktogul Reservoir , located in the Jalal-Abad Province of Kyrgyzstan, is the largest of the reservoirs on the path of the Naryn River. The reservoir was named after Toktogul Satilganov....	Toktogul Satylganov	July 1, 2009
		200 som	138 × 66 mm	Yellow	Alykul Osmonov Alykul Osmonov Alykul Osmonov was a Kyrgyz poet. Osmonov was born in Kaptal-Aryk in Panfilov District, Kyrgyzstan, about 75km east of Bishkek. He was orphaned at a young age and was brought up in state care. His first book of poetry, Poems at Dawn, was published in 1935...	Lake Issyk-Kul	Alykul Osmonov	December 1, 2010	2010
		500 som	144 × 69 mm	Violet	Sayakbay Karalaev Sayakbay Karalaev Sayakbay Karalaev was a renowned manaschi - a reciter of the epic Kyrgyz poem Manas...	Manas Mausoleum	Sayakbai Karalaev	December 1, 2010	2010
		1000 som	150 × 71 mm	Grey-green	Jusup Balasagyn Yusuf Has Hajib Yusuf Balasaghuni or Yusuf Khas Hajib Balasaghuni was an 11th century Uyghur scribe from the city of Balasaghun, the capital of the Karakhanid Empire. He wrote the Kutadgu Bilig and most of what is known about him comes from his own writings in this work.Balasagun was located near present-day...	Takhti Sulaiman Sulayman Mountain The Sulayman Mountain is the only World Heritage Site in the country of Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the city of Osh and was once a major place of Muslim and pre-Muslim pilgrimage... , Mount Sulaiman Sulayman Mountain The Sulayman Mountain is the only World Heritage Site in the country of Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the city of Osh and was once a major place of Muslim and pre-Muslim pilgrimage...	Jusup Balasagyn	December 1, 2010	2010
		5000 som	168 × 80 mm (Not Exact)	Green	Suimenkul Chokmorov	Ala-Too Square Ala-Too Square Ala-Too Square is the central square in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The square was built in 1984 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Kyrgyz SSR, at which time a massive statue of Lenin was placed in the square's center...	Suimenkul Chokmorov	March 2, 2009

External links

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