Who is on Kyrgyzstan’s 1,000 som banknote?
Wikimedia Commons · “ҮЛГҮ” means sample.
The current 1,000 som banknote features Yusuf Balasaguni, an eleventh-century thinker and poet who wrote the didactic work Kutadgu Bilig.
Contents:
Who is on the 1000 som note
Less is known about Balasaguni’s life than about the modern figures on other notes. He is associated with Balasagun in the Karakhanid state. Around 1069-1070 he completed Kutadgu Bilig, a work about knowledge, authority, justice and the ordering of society.
His name appears as Yusuf Balasaguni, Zhusup Balasagyn and in other transliterations. These forms refer to the same author and reflect different language conventions.
Read the full biography of Yusuf Balasaguni.
What appears on the reverse
The reverse shows Takhti-Suleiman, the sacred mountain now known as Sulaiman-Too in Osh. The site combines natural topography, ancient veneration, Islamic traditions and the history of a Silk Road city.
Related guide: our walking route on Sulaiman-Too.
Which issue is this, and is it valid?
The fifth-series note entered circulation on 10 May 2023. It measures 150 × 71 mm and is predominantly grey. Earlier 1,000 som notes remain valid unless the National Bank announces their withdrawal.
Size, colour and issue date
- Entered circulation: 10 May 2023.
- Size: 150 × 71 mm.
- Main colour: grey.
How to check a real banknote
Identify the issue by its date and design, then check several features.
- Against the light, look for a multi-tone portrait watermark with the denomination and a thread that appears continuous.
- Parts printed on opposite sides should align into a diamond when viewed through the note.
- The portrait, bank name, denomination and tactile marks should feel raised.
- Tilt the note: selected elements change colour or shine, while a bar or diamond appears to move on the thread.
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 1000 som banknote?
Yusuf Balasaguni, an eleventh-century thinker and poet who wrote Kutadgu Bilig.
What is on the reverse of the 1000 som banknote?
Takhti-Suleiman, today’s Sulaiman-Too in Osh.
Is the 1000 som banknote valid?
Yes. The fifth-series note is current; older issues that have not been withdrawn may look different.
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