Who is on Kyrgyzstan’s 1 som banknote?
Wikimedia Commons · “ҮЛГҮ” means sample.
The front of Kyrgyzstan’s 1 som banknote features Abdylas Maldybaev, a composer, singer and actor associated with the rise of professional music and musical theatre in Kyrgyzstan.
Contents:
Who is on the 1 som note
Maldybaev lived from 1906 to 1978. He began as a performer, composed for the stage and helped create the first Kyrgyz operas. The Kyrgyz National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Bishkek bears his name.
His portrait represents the generation that turned Kyrgyz-language music and theatre into professional institutions. The note therefore connects a very small denomination with a formative period in the country’s cultural history.
Read the full biography of Abdylas Maldybaev.
What appears on the reverse
The reverse shows a komuz and kyl-kyiak in front of the Toktogul Satylganov Kyrgyz National Philharmonic in Bishkek. The instruments continue the musical theme, while the building links it to the country’s modern concert stage.
Related guide: Bishkek and its cultural venues.
Which issue is this, and is it valid?
This is an older-series banknote dated 1999 and issued on 7 February 2000. It measures 120 × 60 mm and is mainly green and orange. The paper 1 som remains legal tender, although the coin of the same value has largely replaced it in everyday use.
Size, colour and issue date
- Entered circulation: 7 February 2000.
- Size: 120 × 60 mm.
- Main colour: green and orange.
How to check a real banknote
Identify the issue by its date and design, then check several features.
- Hold the note to the light: the paper should reveal a portrait watermark and an embedded security thread.
- The thread on older issues repeats “КЫРГЫЗ БАНКЫ” and sits inside the paper rather than appearing to be printed on top.
- Use magnification to inspect fine lines and microtext. They should remain sharp without blurred ink.
- Feel the main raised inscriptions and compare both serial numbers.
Open the National Bank description and security guide.
Explore every denomination
Read about the people and scenes on the other notes:
1 som · 5 som · 10 som · 20 som · 50 som · 100 som · 200 som · 500 som · 1,000 som · 2,000 som · 5,000 som
How to use som, exchange cash and withdraw money in Kyrgyzstan.
Frequently asked questions
Who is on Kyrgyzstan’s 1 som banknote?
Abdylas Maldybaev, a Kyrgyz composer, singer and actor.
What is on the reverse of the 1 som banknote?
A komuz, a kyl-kyiak and the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic in Bishkek.
Is the 1 som banknote valid?
Yes. Notes issued by the National Bank remain legal tender, but the 1 som coin is far more common in daily transactions.
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