Kazakhstan's currency -- the tenge -- was introduced 20 years ago, replacing the Soviet ruble in the newly independent country at a rate of 1 tenge to 500 rubles. The bold, innovative design of the banknotes has won the tenge a series of international awards. November 15 is marked each year as the Day of the National Currency of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan's Colorful Currency Turns 20
![A Kazakh National Bank employee shows a set of Kazakhstan's new tenge banknotes during a presentation in Almaty in 2006.](https://gdb.rferl.org/8662391c-713a-4968-a0fc-1ff67d60adff_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A Kazakh National Bank employee shows a set of Kazakhstan's new tenge banknotes during a presentation in Almaty in 2006.
![A 2,000-tenge note, whose design was nominated for an award from the International Bank Note Society.](https://gdb.rferl.org/625ec2d4-fe29-4e9d-9d03-c93862342e09_w1024_q10_s.png)
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A 2,000-tenge note, whose design was nominated for an award from the International Bank Note Society.
![A 5,000-tenge note issued in 2011 with a new design, named the Bank Note of the Year by the International Bank Note Society.](https://gdb.rferl.org/24395186-cb61-43e7-9661-57139af18597_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A 5,000-tenge note issued in 2011 with a new design, named the Bank Note of the Year by the International Bank Note Society.
![A 1,000-tenge note issued in 2010 to commemorate Kazakhstan's chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe](https://gdb.rferl.org/ae708b5e-b440-42d7-9805-0b94809e5862_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A 1,000-tenge note issued in 2010 to commemorate Kazakhstan's chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
![A 10,000-tenge note issued in 2006 shows Astana's Bayterek monument and the presidential palace.](https://gdb.rferl.org/85461dd4-a72c-4fc2-962f-42c777fb0350_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A 10,000-tenge note issued in 2006 shows Astana's Bayterek monument and the presidential palace.
![A 200-tenge note shows the Bayterek monument and the Transport and Communications Ministry.](https://gdb.rferl.org/0d454809-fecf-44bb-8a21-f4444d77abde_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A 200-tenge note shows the Bayterek monument and the Transport and Communications Ministry.
![A 10,000-tenge banknote issued in 2003 shows 10th-century philosopher Al-Farabi and a snow leopard against an alpine backdrop.](https://gdb.rferl.org/6bf8bcb8-db9e-47e9-b4ee-c7a35bafda70_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A 10,000-tenge banknote issued in 2003 shows 10th-century philosopher Al-Farabi and a snow leopard against an alpine backdrop.
![The 1993 printings of tenge notes and coins are on display at the currency museum of the National Bank in Almaty.](https://gdb.rferl.org/66da8fb7-c0fb-4153-9f4d-287ec917daa6_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The 1993 printings of tenge notes and coins are on display at the currency museum of the National Bank in Almaty.
![A 10-tenge note from 1993 shows historian Shoqan Ualikhanov and Okzhetpes Mountain, where legend says a captive Oirat woman pledged marriage to any man who could shoot an arrow to the summit.](https://gdb.rferl.org/3c3be266-3723-452f-b5a2-301f6b7915f4_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A 10-tenge note from 1993 shows historian Shoqan Ualikhanov and Okzhetpes Mountain, where legend says a captive Oirat woman pledged marriage to any man who could shoot an arrow to the summit.
![A 20-tenge note features Kazakh poet Abay Kunanbaev and a rider with a golden eagle.](https://gdb.rferl.org/3d05f090-09c9-490a-a68e-d9f94107aa0a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A 20-tenge note features Kazakh poet Abay Kunanbaev and a rider with a golden eagle.
![A 100-tenge note from 1993 shows 18th-century Kazakh commander Ablai Khan and the mausoleum of Hodja Ahmed Yassavi, a 12th-century Turkic poet and Sufi mystic.](https://gdb.rferl.org/83d9e8a8-8d98-40d5-9959-85289bfd5712_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A 100-tenge note from 1993 shows 18th-century Kazakh commander Ablai Khan and the mausoleum of Hodja Ahmed Yassavi, a 12th-century Turkic poet and Sufi mystic.