KGS - Kyrgyzstani Som

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (NBKR), headquartered in Bishkek, serves as the country's central monetary authority. Established in 1991 following independence from the Soviet Union, the NBKR issues banknotes, manages foreign exchange reserves, and implements monetary policy targeting price stability. Kyrgyzstan maintains capital account openness unusual for the region, allowing relatively free currency flows. When sending money to Kyrgyzstan, transfers convert at market-determined rates, with remittances forming a significant portion of the country's GDP.

The Som was introduced on May 10, 1993, making Kyrgyzstan the first CIS country besides Russia to adopt its own currency after the Soviet collapse. It replaced the Russian ruble at a rate of 1 Som per 200 rubles. The first banknotes came in denominations of 1, 5, and 20 Som alongside tyiyn notes (1, 10, 50 tyiyn), designed as coupon-like notes meant for temporary use. Four series have followed — each improving security features and design sophistication. In November 2017, a commemorative 2,000 Som note marked the 25th anniversary of independence and the Som's introduction.

Kyrgyzstan waited longer than any other Central Asian country to introduce circulation coins — they did not appear until January 2008, fifteen years after the Som's introduction. The Kazakhstan Mint in Ust-Kamenogorsk strikes all Kyrgyz coins, which bear resemblance to Russian Federation designs. Each banknote honors Kyrgyz cultural figures: the 20 Som features Togolok Moldo (a celebrated poet-musician) alongside Tash Rabat, a 15th-century stone caravanserai; the 50 Som depicts Kurmanjan Datka, the