Who is on Kyrgyzstan’s 500 som banknote?
Wikimedia Commons · “ҮЛГҮ” means sample.
The current 500 som banknote features Sayakbay Karalaev, one of the best-known manaschi and one of the great performers of the Epic of Manas.
Contents:
Who is on the 500 som note
Karalaev lived from 1894 to 1971. Raised in Issyk-Kul Region, he mastered the epic tradition and became a professional performer of Manas, Semetey and Seytek. The version recorded from him runs to hundreds of thousands of verse lines.
A manaschi does not simply recite a fixed book. The performer retains plots, formulas and images while shaping the telling in the moment. Karalaev’s portrait presents this oral practice as national cultural heritage.
Read the full biography of Sayakbay Karalaev.
What appears on the reverse
The reverse depicts the Manas Mausoleum near Talas. Popular memory and modern commemoration connect the medieval monument with the epic hero, although its historical inscription refers to a woman from the Chagataid period.
Related guide: how manaschi learn and perform the epic.
Which issue is this, and is it valid?
The fifth-series note entered circulation on 10 May 2023. It measures 144 × 68 mm and is predominantly purple. Valid older 500 som issues may have a different composition and a different set of visible security features.
Size, colour and issue date
- Entered circulation: 10 May 2023.
- Size: 144 × 68 mm.
- Main colour: purple.
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 500 som banknote?
Sayakbay Karalaev, a major performer of the Epic of Manas.
What is on the reverse of the 500 som banknote?
The Manas Mausoleum near Talas.
Is the 500 som banknote valid?
Yes. The fifth series is current; older issues that have not been withdrawn may also be accepted.
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