Kazakh National Bank runs exhibition featuring tenge banknotes in Almaty
The National Bank of Kazakhstan is hosting an exhibition featuring tenge banknotes, collection and investment coins, which marks 31 years since the introduction of the Kazakh national currency – tenge, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
According to Vitaliy Tutushkin, the deputy chairman of the Kazakh National Bank, the exhibition introduces a wider audience to the history of the tenge, the new Saka style series of banknotes as well as investment and collection coins.
The exhibits on display cover the key cultural, political and historic periods of the country’s establishment and development and its national currency as well as reflect the customs and traditions of our nation, said Tutushkin.
The Saka style is the fifth series of banknotes, reflecting the unique perceptions of our ancestors, their connection with nature and wildlife. It’s worth noting that all the artifacts used to design the banknotes were found in the territory of Kazakhstan and are the cultural heritage of our nation. The new banknotes feature the sacred animals, that played a key role in the life of our ancestors, including the Argali, Golden eagle and horses, says Sanzhar Nurkassymova, lead designer at the cash circulation department of the Bank.
Introduced in 1993, the Kazakh national currency – tenge was first issued under the Portraits series, followed by Al-Farabi, Baiterek, Qazaq Yeli/Samruk and Saka style series.
As expert Valeriy Kitikov, vice president of the Collectors’ Society of Almaty, noted, a new banknote design is introduced each 7-8 years worldwide in order to prevent money counterfeiting. Kazakhstan issued the Saka style-banknotes last year, as the previous banknote series Qazaq Yeli/Samruk has been in circulation since 2012.
The expert went on to say that Kazakhstan’s banknotes were named the world’s most beautiful three times, including 10,000 tenge banknote in 2011, 5,000 tenge banknote in 2012 and commemorative 1,000 tenge banknote in 2013. According to Kitikov, this was possible thanks to the latest technologies used at the Kazakh Mint, where the country also produces coins of other countries.
The exhibition also features collection coins from the most popular series as well as coins with unique concepts and designs, made of gold silver and non-precious metals (cupronickel and nickel silver). The collection coins, made to promote the numismatic market, are devoted to anniversaries and commemorative dates as well as historic events.
The exhibition is set to run through November 22 at the JusanVibe art space in Almaty.
To note, Kazakhstan is to celebrate the National Currency Day on November 15, marking 31 years since the introduction of the national currency tenge.
